Image display apparatus, server, and methods for operating the same

ABSTRACT

An image display apparatus, a server, and methods for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating an image display apparatus includes entering channel scan mode, receiving a broadcast signal of a detected broadcast channel in the channel scan mode, extracting, in the presence of an image representing a channel name in a broadcast image of the broadcast signal, the image representing a channel name from the broadcast image, determining channel number information and channel name information about the broadcast channel based on the extracted image, and storing the channel number information and the channel name information about the broadcast channel in a channel map.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos.10-2011-0129854, filed on Dec. 6, 2011, 10-2012-0034537, filed on Apr.3, 2012, 10-2012-0039823, filed on Apr. 17, 2012, 10-2012-0048754, filedon May 8, 2012, 10-2012-0081318, filed on Jul. 25, 2012, and10-2012-0086762, filed on Aug. 8, 2012. The disclosure of all theseapplications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, a server,and methods for operating the same, and more particularly, to an imagedisplay apparatus, a server, and methods for operating the same, whichcan increase user convenience.

2. Description of the Related Art

An electronic device processes an electrical signal and operates basedon the processed electrical signal, according to a user's manipulation.Among electronic devices, an image display apparatus has a function ofdisplaying images to a user. The image display apparatus can display abroadcast program selected by the user on a display from among broadcastprograms transmitted from broadcasting stations. The recent trend inbroadcasting is a worldwide shift from analog broadcasting to digitalbroadcasting.

As it transmits digital audio and video signals, digital broadcastingoffers many advantages over analog broadcasting, such as robustnessagainst noise, less data loss, ease of error correction, and the abilityto provide high-definition, clear images. Digital broadcasting alsoallows interactive viewer services, compared to analog broadcasting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide animage display apparatus, a server, and methods for operating the same,which can increase user convenience.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay apparatus, a server, and methods for operating the same, whichcan readily generate a channel map including information about thechannel numbers and channel names of broadcast signals.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method foroperating an image display apparatus, including entering channel scanmode, receiving a broadcast signal of a detected broadcast channel inthe channel scan mode, extracting, in the presence of an imagerepresenting a channel name in a broadcast image of the broadcastsignal, the image representing a channel name from the broadcast image,determining channel number information and channel name informationabout the broadcast channel based on the extracted image, and storingthe channel number information and the channel name information aboutthe broadcast channel in a channel map.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for operating a server, including receiving channelnumber information and channel name information from an image displayapparatus, selecting a matching channel map using the received channelnumber information and channel name information, and transmittinginformation about the selected channel map to the image displayapparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image display apparatus including a broadcasting receiver toreceive a broadcast signal of a detected broadcast channel in channelscan mode, a controller to extract, in the presence of an imagerepresenting a channel name in a broadcast image of the broadcastsignal, the image representing a channel name from the broadcast image,and to determine channel number information and channel name informationabout the broadcast channel based on the extracted image, and a memoryto store the channel number information and the channel name informationabout the broadcast channel in a channel map.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a server including a network interface to receive channelnumber information and channel name information from an image displayapparatus, a memory to store a plurality of channels maps, and aprocessor to control selection of a matching channel map from among theplurality of channel maps stored in the memory, using the receivedchannel number information and channel name information and to controltransmission of the selected channel map to the image display apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an image display system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of a set-top box according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a controller illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for controlling a remote controllerillustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the remote controller illustrated in FIG.2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a server illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the serveraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for performing anoperation between the image display apparatus and the server accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A to 16E are views referred to for describing various examplesof the method for operating the image display apparatus illustrated inFIG. 8 or the method for operating the server illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the remotecontroller according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the serveraccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for performing anoperation among the image display apparatus, the server, the remotecontroller, and the set-top box according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 22 to 24 are views referred to for describing various examples ofthe operation method illustrated in FIG. 18, 19 or 20;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the serveraccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for performing anoperation between the image display apparatus and the server accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 28A to 28G are views referred to for describing various examplesof the method for operating the image display apparatus illustrated inFIG. 25 or the method for operating the server illustrated in FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting an imageincluding broadcasting information in the image display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 31A to 33B are views referred to for describing various examplesof the method for operating the image display apparatus illustrated inFIG. 29;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for performing anoperation between the image display apparatus and the server accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 36A to 37E are views referred to for describing various examplesof the method for operating the image display apparatus illustrated inFIG. 34;

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to a further embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 39A to 40C are views referred to for describing various examplesof the method for operating the image display apparatus illustrated inFIG. 38.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the attached drawings.

The terms “module” and “unit” used to signify components are used hereinto help the understanding of the components and thus they should not beconsidered as having specific meanings or roles. Accordingly, the terms“module” and “unit” may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 illustrates an image display system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image display system 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention may include an image displayapparatus 100, a set-top box 250, and a server 500.

The set-top box 250 may receive a broadcast signal, process the receivedbroadcast signal, and transmit the processed broadcast signal to theimage display apparatus 100.

For the operation, the set-top box 250 may include a broadcastingreceiver (272 in FIG. 3B) having a tuner and a demodulator. Aside fromthe broadcasting receiver, the set-top 250 may receive a broadcast imagethrough a network interface (255 in FIG. 3A).

The set-top box 250 may receive a terrestrial broadcast signal, asatellite broadcast signal, a cable broadcast signal, an InternetProtocol TV (IPTV) broadcast signal, etc.

In addition to broadcast signals, the set-top box 250 may read a mediasignal from a storage medium such as an optical disk or a memory andprocess the media signal.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive a broadcast signal throughan antenna or the set-top box 250.

In the case where it receives a broadcast signal through the antenna,the image display apparatus 100 may receive the broadcast signal througha tuner unit 110 illustrated in FIG. 2. The broadcast signal receivedthrough the antenna may be a terrestrial digital broadcast signal, aterrestrial analog broadcast signal, or a satellite digital broadcastsignal.

In the case where it receives a broadcast signal through the set-top box250, the image display apparatus 100 may receive the broadcast signalthrough an external device interface 130 illustrated in FIG. 2. Thebroadcast signal received through the set-top box 250 may be aterrestrial digital broadcast signal, a terrestrial analog broadcastsignal, a cable digital broadcast signal, a cable analog broadcastsignal, a satellite digital broadcast signal, or an IPTV broadcastsignal.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the imagedisplay apparatus 100 may generate a channel map including informationabout channel numbers and channel names.

In the case of a terrestrial digital broadcast signal received throughthe antenna, since it includes channel number information and channelname information, the image display apparatus 100 may use the channelnumber information and channel name information in generating thechannel map.

In the case of a terrestrial analog broadcast signal received throughthe antenna, it includes channel number information without channel nameinformation. Therefore, the image display apparatus 100 cannot identifya channel name corresponding to the channel number.

In regard to a broadcast signal without channel name information such asa terrestrial analog broadcast signal, when a broadcast video includesan image indicating a channel name, the image is extracted and thus thechannel name is acquired from the extracted image in the embodiment ofthe present invention. Specifically, a logo representing a channel namemay be detected and thus the channel name may be acquired from the logo.

In contrast, in the absence of an image indicating a channel name in abroadcast image, it is difficult to acquire the channel name. In thiscase, the present invention provides a method for determining a channelname from a preliminarily created channel map. That is, the imagedisplay apparatus 100 transmits the channel map with channel numberinformation and channel name information determined so far to the server500. The server 500 detects a channel map matching to the receivedchannel number information and channel name information from among aplurality of stored channel maps and transmits information about thedetected channel map to the image display apparatus 100. In this manner,the image display apparatus 100 can determine the channel name in spiteof the absence of an image indicating the channel name in a broadcastimage, thereby completing the channel map.

The server 500 may receive channel number information and channel nameinformation or channel map information from each of a plurality of imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n through a network interface (730 inFIG. 7).

As described before, the server 500 selects a matching channel map foreach of the image display apparatuses 100 a to 100 n based on channelnumber information and channel name information received from the imagedisplay apparatus and transmits information about the selected channelmap to the image display apparatus.

If the server 500 does not preserve channel maps for the image displayapparatuses 100 a to 100 n, it may receive channel maps from anotherserver and select a matching channel map for each image displayapparatus from among the channel maps.

In the case where the server 500 does not preserve channel maps for theimage display apparatuses 100 a to 100 n and the channel maps are notavailable from another server, when a specific number of channel mapsare the same among channel maps received from the image displayapparatuses 100 a to 100 n, the server 500 may store the same channelmap as a new channel map. Preferably, the same channel map may becompleted using the channel maps received from the image displayapparatuses 100 a to 100 n and then stored as a new channel map.

In the embodiment of the present invention, while the image displayapparatus 100 is receiving a broadcast signal of a detected broadcastchannel in channel scan mode, it extracts an image indicating a channelname, in the presence of the image indicating the channel name in abroadcast image, and acquires the channel name from the extracted image,as described above. Thus the image display apparatus 100 can generate achannel map simply using the channel number and the channel name,thereby increasing user convenience.

On the other hand, in the absence of an image indicating the channelname in the broadcast image, the image display apparatus 100 transmitschannel number information and channel name information determined sofar to the server 500, receives channel map information from the server500, and updates the channel map using the received channel mapinformation. Thus the image display apparatus 100 can complete thechannel map so that it may include channel names for all channels.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the image displayapparatus 100 may include an object with a plurality of broadcastprogram items. The object may be created based on real-time viewerrating information received from the server 500.

Upon selection of one of the plurality of broadcast program items, theimage display apparatus 100 may transmit channel information about theselected broadcast program to a remote controller 200. The remotecontroller 200 may then transmit channel number information about theselected broadcast program based on the received channel information tothe set-top box 250.

Thus, the set-top box 250 may switch to a channel to transmit theselected broadcast program, receive the broadcast program, and transmitthe received broadcast program. Accordingly, the image display apparatus100 can simply display the broadcast program, thereby enabling the userto view an intended program easily.

Particularly, since the remote controller 200 communicates with theset-top box 250 in a first communication scheme and communicates withthe image display apparatus 100 in a second communication scheme, theimage display apparatus 100 and the set-top box 250 can be readilycontrolled with the single remote controller 200.

Meanwhile, even though the object does not provide channel numberinformation, any of the plurality of broadcast program items can beselected in a program-based manner. Therefore, the user can view anintended broadcast program reliably.

The server 500 may generate the real-time viewer rating informationbased on an image indicating a channel name or program name receivedfrom the image display apparatus 100.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the image displayapparatus 100 receives a broadcast signal from the set-top box 250through an external device interface (130 in FIG. 2) and extractsbroadcasting information or an image having the broadcasting informationfrom the broadcast signal.

The image display apparatus 100 transmits the extracted broadcastinginformation or the extracted image including the broadcastinginformation to the server 500 through the network interface (135 in FIG.2).

The server 500 receives broadcasting information or images including thebroadcasting information from a plurality of image display apparatusesthrough the network interface (730 in FIG. 7). Then the server 500generates real-time viewer rating information based on the receivedbroadcasting information or the received images including thebroadcasting information and transmits the real-time viewer ratinginformation to at least one of the image display apparatuses.

In the case where the image display apparatus 100 receives a broadcastsignal through the set-top box 250 instead of a broadcasting receiver(105 in FIG. 2) as described above, real-time viewer rating informationis generated using broadcasting information or an image including thebroadcasting information, included in the broadcast signal. Therefore,the user can readily identify a program or channel of interest, withincreased convenience.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when a recording mode isset, the image display apparatus 100 may determine whether an imageincluding broadcasting information exists in a broadcast signal and, inthe presence of the image, may store broadcast content of the broadcastsignal. Therefore, only user-intended broadcast content can be recordedcorrectly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, upon receipt of anapplication execution input, the image display apparatus 100 may acquirebroadcast program information and execute a requested application basedon the broadcast program information. Accordingly, the user can readilyacquire additional information about a viewed broadcast program.

Applications are distinguished on a broadcast program basis. They may bedownloaded from the server 500 and installed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, auto channel scan modemay be classified into fast mode and normal mode.

In fast mode, a part of the total channels are scanned and channelnumber information about the total channels are acquired fast based onchannel number information and channel name information about thescanned channels. In this manner, a channel map is generated for thetotal channels.

In normal mode, all the channels are scanned and channel numberinformation is determined for the channels. Accordingly, a channel mapis generated using the channel number information about the entirechannels.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in fast mode, the imagedisplay apparatus 100 scans broadcast signals of a part of all channels,extracts images indicating channel names or program names from broadcastimages of broadcast signals of the scanned channels, determines channelnumber information and channel name information about the broadcastsignals, transmits the determined channel number information and channelname information to the server 500, and receives channel numberinformation and channel name information about a plurality of channelsincluding the scanned channels. Thus, channel number information aboutall channels can be determined fast.

The image display apparatus 100 may be any of a TV, monitor, PC, etc.that can display a broadcast program.

The server 500 may be one of a content server for providing content, aservice server for providing a service, and a network server forproviding a network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the image display apparatus 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention includes a broadcasting receiver105, an external device interface 130, a network interface 135, a memory140, a user input interface 150, a sensor unit (not shown), a controller170, a display 180, and an audio output unit 185.

The broadcasting receiver 105 may include the tuner unit 110, ademodulator 120, and a network interface 130. As needed, thebroadcasting receiver 105 may be configured so as to include only thetuner unit 110 and the demodulator 120 or only the network interface130.

Unlike the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the broadcastingreceiver 105 may include the external device interface 130. For example,a broadcast signal from the set-top box 250 may be received through theexternal device interface 130.

The tuner unit 110 selects a Radio Frequency (RF) broadcast signalcorresponding to a channel selected by a user or an RF broadcast signalcorresponding to each of pre-stored channels from among a plurality ofRF broadcast signals received through an antenna and downconverts theselected RF broadcast signal into a digital Intermediate Frequency (IF)signal or an analog baseband Audio/Video (A/V) signal.

More specifically, if the selected RF broadcast signal is a digitalbroadcast signal, the tuner unit 110 downconverts the selected RFbroadcast signal into a digital IF signal, DIF. On the other hand, ifthe selected RF broadcast signal is an analog broadcast signal, thetuner unit 110 downconverts the selected RF broadcast signal into ananalog baseband A/V signal, CVBS/SIF. That is, the tuner unit 110 may bea hybrid tuner capable of processing not only digital broadcast signalsbut also analog broadcast signals. The analog baseband A/V signalCVBS/SIF may be directly input to the controller 170.

The tuner unit 110 may be capable of receiving RF broadcast signals froman Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) single-carrier system orfrom a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) multi-carrier system.

The tuner unit 110 may sequentially select a number of RF broadcastsignals corresponding to all broadcast channels previously stored in theimage display apparatus 100 by a channel add function from a pluralityof RF signals received through the antenna and may downconvert theselected RF broadcast signals into IF signals or baseband A/V signals.

The tuner unit 110 may include a plurality of tuners for receivingbroadcast signals on a plurality of channels. Alternatively, the tunerunit 110 may be implemented into a single tuner for simultaneouslyreceiving broadcast signals on a plurality of channels.

The demodulator 120 receives the digital IF signal DIF from the tunerunit 110 and demodulates the digital IF signal DIF.

The demodulator 120 may perform demodulation and channel decoding on thedigital IF signal DIF, thereby obtaining a stream signal TS. The streamsignal TS may be a signal in which a video signal, an audio signal and adata signal are multiplexed.

The stream signal TS may be input to the controller 170 and thussubjected to demultiplexing and A/V signal processing. The processedvideo and audio signals are output to the display 180 and the audiooutput unit 185, respectively.

The external device interface 130 may serve as an interface between aconnected external device and the image display apparatus 100. Forinterfacing, the external device interface 130 may include an A/VInput/Output (I/O) unit (not shown) and/or a wireless communicationmodule (not shown).

The external device interface 130 may be connected to an external devicesuch as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a Blu-ray player, a gameconsole, a camera, a camcorder, a computer (e.g., a laptop computer), ora set-top box, wirelessly or by wire. Then, the external deviceinterface 130 transmits and receives signals to and from the externaldevice.

The A/V I/O unit of the external device interface 130 may receive video,audio, and/or data signals from the external device. The wirelesscommunication module of the external device interface 130 may performshort-range wireless communication with other electronic devices.

The network interface 135 serves as an interface between the imagedisplay apparatus 100 and a wired/wireless network such as the Internet.The network interface 135 may receive content or data from the Internet,a Content Provider (CP), or a Network Provider (NP).

The memory 140 may store various programs necessary for the controller170 to process and control signals, and may also store processed video,audio and data signals.

The memory 140 may temporarily store a video, audio and/or data signalreceived from the external device interface 130. The memory 140 maystore information about broadcast channels by the channel-add functionsuch as a channel map.

While the memory 140 is shown in FIG. 2 as configured separately fromthe controller 170, to which the present invention is not limited, thememory 140 may be incorporated into the controller 170, for example.

The user input interface 150 transmits a signal received from the userto the controller 170 or transmits a signal received from the controller170 to the user.

For example, the user input interface 150 may receive various user inputsignals such as a power-on/off signal, a channel selection signal, and ascreen setting signal from a remote controller 200, provide thecontroller 170 with user input signals received from local keys (notshown), such as inputs of a power key, a channel key, and a volume key,and a setting key, transmit a control signal received from a sensor unit(not shown) for sensing a user gesture to the controller 170, ortransmit a signal received from the controller 170 to the sensor unit.

The controller 170 may demultiplex the stream signal TS received fromthe tuner unit 110, the demodulator 120, or the external deviceinterface 130 into a number of signals and process the demultiplexedsignals into audio and video data.

The video signal processed by the controller 170 may be displayed as animage on the display 180. The video signal processed by the controller170 may also be transmitted to an external output device through theexternal device interface 130.

The audio signal processed by the controller 170 may be output to theaudio output unit 185. Also, the audio signal processed by thecontroller 170 may be transmitted to the external output device throughthe external device interface 130.

While not shown in FIG. 2, the controller 170 may include ademultiplexer (DEMUX) and a video processor, which will be describedlater with reference to FIG. 4.

In addition, the controller 170 may provide overall control to the imagedisplay apparatus 100. For example, the controller 170 may control thetuner unit 110 to select an RF broadcast signal corresponding to auser-selected channel or a pre-stored channel.

The controller 170 may control the image display apparatus 100 accordingto a user command received through the user input interface 150 oraccording to an internal program.

The controller 170 may also control the display 180 to display images.The image displayed on the display 180 may be a two-Dimensional (2D) orthree-Dimensional (3D) still image or moving picture.

The controller 170 may control a particular object in the imagedisplayed on the display 180 to be rendered as a 3D object. For example,the particular object may be at least one of a linked Web page (e.g.from a newspaper, a magazine, etc.), an Electronic Program Guide (EPG),a menu, a widget, an icon, a still image, a moving picture, or text.

This 3D object may be processed to have a different depth from the imagedisplayed on the display 180. Preferably, the 3D object may appearprotruding relative to the image displayed on the display 180.

The controller 170 may locate the user based on an image captured by acamera unit (not shown). Specifically, the controller 170 may measurethe distance (a z-axis coordinate) between the user and the imagedisplay apparatus 100. In addition, the controller 170 may calculatex-axis and y-axis coordinates corresponding to the position of the useron the display 180.

The image display apparatus 100 may further include a channel browsingprocessor (not shown) for generating thumbnail images corresponding tochannel signals or external input signals. The channel browsingprocessor may extract some of the video frames of each of stream signalsTS received from the demodulator 120 or stream signals received from theexternal device interface 130 and display the extracted video frames onthe display 180 as thumbnail images. The thumbnail images may be outputto the controller 170 after they are encoded together with a decodedimage. The controller 170 may display a thumbnail list including aplurality of received thumbnail images on the display 180.

The thumbnail list may be displayed on a part of the display 180 with animage displayed on the display 180, that is, as a compact view, or thethumbnail list may be displayed in full screen on the display 180. Thethumbnail images of the thumbnail list may be updated sequentially.

The display 180 generates drive signals by converting a processed videosignal, a processed data signal, an On Screen Display (OSD) signal, anda control signal received from the controller 170 or a video signal, adata signal, and a control signal received from the external deviceinterface 130.

The display 180 may be various types of displays such as a PlasmaDisplay Panel (PDP), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an OrganicLight-Emitting Diode (OLED) display, and a flexible display. The display180 may also be capable of displaying 3D images.

For 3D visualization, the display 180 may be configured into anauto-stereoscopic 3D display (glasses-free) or a traditionalstereoscopic 3D display (with glasses).

Auto-stereoscopy is any method of displaying 3D images without anyadditional display, for example, special glasses on the part of a user.Thus, the display 180 displays 3D images on its own. Renticular andparallax barrier are examples of auto-stereoscopic 3D imaging.

The traditional stereoscopy requires an additional display besides thedisplay 180 in order to display 3D images. The additional display may bea Head Mount Display (HMD) type, a glasses type, etc.

As special 3D glasses, polarized glasses operate in a passive manner,whereas shutter glasses operate in an active manner. Also, HMD types maybe categorized into passive ones and active ones.

A viewing device (not shown) may be 3D glasses that enable the user toview 3D images. The 3D glasses may be passive-type polarized glasses,active-type shutter glasses, or an HMD type.

The display 180 may also be a touch screen that can be used not only asan output device but also as an input device.

The audio output unit 185 may receive a processed audio signal from thecontroller 170 and output the received audio signal as voice.

The camera module (not shown) captures a user. The camera module mayinclude, but not limited to, a single camera. When needed, the cameramodule may include a plurality of cameras. The camera module may beembedded above the display 180 in the image display apparatus 100, ormay be separately configured. Image information captured by the cameramodule may be provided to the controller 170.

The controller 170 may sense a user's gesture from a captured imagereceived from the camera module or from signals received from the sensorunit (not shown) alone or in combination.

The remote controller 200 transmits a user input to the user inputinterface 150. For the transmission of a user input, the remotecontroller 200 may operate in conformance to various communicationstandards such as Bluetooth, RF, InfraRed (IR), Ultra WideBand (UWB),and ZigBee. In addition, the remote controller 200 may receive a videosignal, audio signal and/or data signal from the user input interface150 and output the received signal as an image or sound.

The above-described image display apparatus 100 may be a fixed or mobiledigital broadcast receiver.

The block diagram of the image display apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.2 is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The image displayapparatus 100 is shown in FIG. 2 as having a number of components in agiven configuration. However, the image display apparatus 100 mayinclude fewer components or more components than those shown in FIG. 1in alternative embodiments. Also, two or more components of the imagedisplay apparatus 100 may be combined into a single component or asingle component thereof may be separated into two more components inalternative embodiments. The functions of the components of the imagedisplay apparatus 100 as set forth herein are illustrative in nature andmay be modified, for example, to meet the requirements of a givenapplication.

Unlike the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the image displayapparatus 100 may be configured so as to receive and playback videocontent through the network interface 135 or the external deviceinterface 130, without the tuner unit 100 and the demodulator 120.

The image display apparatus 100 is an example of image signal processingapparatus that processes a stored image or an input image. Otherexamples of the image signal processing apparatus include a set-top boxwithout the display 180 and the audio output unit 185, a DVD player, aBlu-ray player, a game console, and a computer. The set-top box will bedescribed later with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of the set-top box according toembodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the set-top box 250 may include a networkinterface 255, a memory 258, a signal processor 260, a user inputinterface 263, and an external device interface 265.

The network interface 255 serves as an interface between the set-top box250 and a wired/wireless network such as the Internet. The networkinterface 255 may transmit data to or receive data from another user oranother electronic device over a connected network or over anothernetwork linked to the connected network.

The memory 258 may store programs necessary for the signal processor 260to process and control signals and may temporarily store a video, audioand/or data signal received from the external device interface 265 orthe network interface 255.

The signal processor 260 processes an input signal. For example, thesignal processor 260 may demultiplex or decode an input video or audiosignal. For signal processing, the signal processor 260 may include avideo decoder or an audio decoder. The processed video or audio signalmay be transmitted to the image display apparatus 100 through theexternal device interface 265.

The user input interface 263 transmits a signal received from the userto the signal processor 260 or a signal received from the signalprocessor 260 to the user. For example, the user input interface 263 mayreceive various control signals such as a power on/off signal, anoperation input signal, and a setting input signal through a local key(not shown) or the remote controller 200 and may output the controlsignals to the signal processor 260.

The external device interface 265 serves as an interface between theset-top box 250 and an external device that is connected wirelessly orby wire, particularly the image display apparatus 100, for signaltransmission or reception. The external device interface 265 may alsointerface with an external device such as a game console, a camera, acamcorder, and a computer (e.g. a laptop computer), for datatransmission or reception.

The set-top box 250 may further include a media input unit (not shown)for media playback. The media input unit may be a Blu-ray input unit,for example. That is, the set-top box 250 may include a Blu-ray player.After signal processing such as demultiplexing or decoding in the signalprocessor 260, a media signal from a Blu-ray disk may be transmitted tothe image display apparatus 100 through the external device interface265 so as to be displayed on the image display apparatus 100.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the configuration of the set-top box 250illustrated in FIG. 3B is similar to that of the set-top box 250illustrated in FIG. 3A, except that a broadcasting receiver 272 residesin the set-top box 250. The broadcast receiver 272 may include the tuner270 and the demodulator 275. Especially, a broadcast signal may bereceived through an antenna. The received broadcast signal may be inputto the signal processor 260.

The signal processor 260 operates in the same manner as described beforewith reference to FIG. 3A and thus its description is not providedherein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the controller illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 170 may include a DEMUX 310, a videoprocessor 320, a processor 330, an On Screen Data (OSD) generator 340, amixer 345, a Frame Rate Converter (FRC) 350, and a formatter 360according to an embodiment of the present invention. The controller 170may further include an audio processor (not shown) and a data processor(not shown).

The DEMUX 310 demultiplexes an input stream. For example, the DEMUX 310may demultiplex an MPEG-2 TS into a video signal, an audio signal, and adata signal. The input stream signal may be received from the tuner unit110, the demodulator 120 or the external device interface 135.

The video processor 320 may process the demultiplexed video signal. Forvideo signal processing, the video processor 320 may include a videodecoder 325 and a scaler 335.

The video decoder 325 decodes the demultiplexed video signal and thescaler 335 scales the resolution of the decoded video signal so that thevideo signal can be displayed on the display 180.

The video decoder 325 may be provided with decoders that operate inconformance to various standards.

The decoded video signal processed by the video processor 320 may be a2D video signal, a 3D video signal, or a combination of both.

For example, it may be determined whether an external video signalreceived from an external device or a video signal included in abroadcast signal received from the tuner unit 110 is a 2D signal, a 3Dsignal, or a combination of both. Accordingly, the controller 170,particularly the video processor 320 processes the video signal andoutputs a 2D video signal, a 3D video signal, or a combination of both.

The decoded video signal from the video processor 320 may have any ofvarious available formats. For example, the decoded video signal may bea 3D video signal with a color image and a depth image or a 3D videosignal with multi-viewpoint image signals. The multi-viewpoint imagesignals may include, for example, a left-eye image signal and aright-eye image signal.

For 3D visualization, available 3D formats include a side-by-sideformat, a top/bottom format, a frame sequential format, an interlacedformat, and a checker box format. A left-eye image L and a right-eyeimage R are arranged side by side in the side by side format. Theleft-eye image L and the right-eye image R are stacked vertically in thetop/bottom format, while they are arranged in time division in the framesequential format. In the interlaced format, the left-eye image L andthe right-eye image R alternate line by line. The left-eye image L andthe right-eye image R are mixed on a box basis in the checker boxformat.

The processor 330 may provide overall control to the image displayapparatus 100 or the controller 170. For example, the processor 330 maycontrol the tuner unit 110 to tune to RF broadcasting corresponding to auser-selected channel or a pre-stored channel.

The processor 330 may also control the image display apparatus 100according to a user command received through the user input interface150 or an internal program.

The processor 330 may control data transmission through the networkinterface 135 or the external device interface 130.

The processor 330 may control operations of the DEMUX 310, the videoprocessor 320, and the OSD generator 340 in the controller 170.

The OSD generator 340 generates an OSD signal autonomously or accordingto a user input. For example, the OSD generator 340 may generate signalsby which a variety of information is displayed as graphics or text onthe display 180, according to user input signals. The OSD signal mayinclude various data such as a User Interface (UI), a variety of menus,widgets, icons, etc. Also, the OSD signal may include a 2D object and/ora 3D object.

Further, the OSD generator 340 may generate a pointer to be displayed onthe display 180 based on a pointing signal received from the remotecontroller 200. Especially, the pointer may be generated from a pointingsignal processor (not shown), which may reside in the OSD generator 240.Obviously, the pointing signal processor may be configured separately.

The mixer 345 may mix the decoded video signal processed by the videoprocessor 320 with the OSD signal generated from the OSD generator 340.The OSD signal and the decoded video signal each may include at leastone of a 2D signal or a 3D signal. The mixed video signal is provided tothe FRC 350.

The FRC 350 may change the frame rate of the mixed video signal orsimply output the mixed video signal without frame rate conversion.

The formatter 360 may arrange left-eye and right-eye video frames of theframe rate-converted 3D image and may also output a synchronizationsignal Vsync to open the left or right lens of the viewing device 195.

The formatter 360 may separate a 2D video signal and a 3D video signalfrom the mixed video signal of the OSD signal and the decoded videosignal received from the mixer 345.

The formatter 360 may change the format of the 3D video signal, forexample, to one of the afore-described 3D formats.

Meanwhile, the formatter 360 may convert a 2D video signal to a 3D videosignal. For example, the formatter 360 may detect edges or a selectableobject from the 2D video signal and generate a 3D video signal with anobject based on the detected edges or the selectable object. Asdescribed before, the 3D video signal may be separated into left-eye andright-eye image signals L and R.

A 3D processor (not shown) may further be provided at the rear end ofthe formatter 360, for processing a signal to exert 3D effects. Forenhancing 3D effects, the 3D processor may adjust the brightness, tint,and color of a video signal. For example, the 3D processor may process avideo signal so that a near area appears clear and a far area appearsobscure. Meanwhile, the function of the 3D processor may be incorporatedinto the formatter 360 or the video processor 320.

The audio processor (not shown) of the controller 170 may process thedemultiplexed audio signal. For the audio signal processing, the audioprocessor may have a plurality of decoders.

The audio processor of the controller 170 may also adjust the bass,treble, and volume of the audio signal.

The data processor (not shown) of the controller 170 may process thedata signal obtained by demultiplexing the input stream signal. Forexample, if the demultiplexed data signal is a coded data signal, thedata processor may decode the coded data signal. The coded data signalmay be an EPG which includes broadcast information specifying the starttime, end time, etc. of scheduled broadcast TV or radio programs.

While it is shown in FIG. 4 that the mixer 345 mixes signals receivedfrom the OSD generator 340 and the video processor 320 and then theformatter 360 performs 3D processing on the mixed signal, to which thepresent invention is not limited, the mixer 345 may be positioned afterthe formatter 360. Thus the formatter 360 may perform 3D processing on asignal received from the video processor 320, the OSD generator 340 maygenerate an OSD signal and subject the OSD signal to 3D processing, andthen the mixer 345 may mix the processed 3D signals received from theformatter 360 and the OSD generator 340.

The block diagram of the image display apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.4 is purely exemplary. Depending upon the specifications of the imagedisplay apparatus 100 in actual implementation, the components of theimage display apparatus 100 may be combined or omitted or new componentsmay be added. That is, two or more components are incorporated into onecomponent or one component may be configured as separate components, asneeded.

Especially, the FRC 350 and the formatter 360 may be configuredseparately outside the controller 170.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for controlling the remote controllerillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5( a) illustrates a pointer 205 representing movement of the remotecontroller 200 displayed on the display 180.

The user may move or rotate the remote controller 200 up and down, sideto side (FIG. 5( b)), and back and forth (FIG. 5( c)). Since the pointer205 moves in accordance with the movement of the remote controller 200in 3D space, the remote controller 200 may be referred to as a pointingdevice.

Referring to FIG. 5( b), if the user moves the remote controller 200 tothe left, the pointer 205 also moves to the left on the display 180.

A sensor of the remote controller 200 detects the movement of the remotecontroller 200 and transmits motion information corresponding to theresult of the detection to the image display apparatus 100. Then, theimage display apparatus 100 determines the movement of the remotecontroller 200 based on the motion information received from the remotecontroller 200, and calculates the coordinates of a target point towhich the pointer 205 should be shifted in accordance with the movementof the remote controller 200 based on the result of the determination.The image display apparatus 100 then displays the pointer 205 at thecalculated coordinates.

Referring to FIG. 5( c), while pressing a predetermined button of theremote controller 200, the user moves the remote controller 200 awayfrom the display 180. Then, a selected area corresponding to the pointer205 may be zoomed in and enlarged on the display 180. On the contrary,if the user moves the remote controller 200 toward the display 180, theselection area corresponding to the pointer 205 is zoomed out and thuscontracted on the display 180. The opposite case is also possible. Thatis, when the remote controller 200 recedes from the display 180, theselection area may be zoomed out and when the remote controller 200approaches the display 180, the selection area may be zoomed in.

With the predetermined button pressed on the remote controller 200, theup, down, left and right movements of the remote controller 200 may beignored. That is, when the remote controller 200 recedes from oradvances toward the display 180, only the back and forth movements ofthe remote controller 200 may be sensed, while the up, down, left andright movements of the remote controller 200 may be ignored. Unless thepredetermined button is pressed in the remote controller 200, thepointer 205 may move in accordance with the up, down, left or rightmovement of the remote controller 200.

The speed and direction of the pointer 205 may correspond to the speedand direction of the remote controller 200.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the remote controller illustrated in FIG.2.

Referring to FIG. 6, the remote controller 200 may include a wirelesscommunication module 420, a user input unit 430, a sensor unit 440, anoutput unit 450, a power supply 460, a memory 470, and a controller 480.

The wireless communication module 405 transmits signals to and receivessignals from the image display apparatus 100.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless communicationmodule 420 may include an RF module 421 for transmitting RF signals toand/or receiving RF signals from the image display apparatus 100according to an RF communication standard. The wireless communicationmodule 420 may also include an IR module 423 for transmitting IR signalsto and/or receiving IR signals from the image display apparatus 100according to an IR communication standard.

The remote controller 200 may transmit motion information regarding itsmovement to the image display apparatus 100 through the RF module 421.

The remote controller 200 may also receive signals from the imagedisplay apparatus 100 through the RF module 421. The remote controller200 may transmit commands, such as a power on/off command, a channelswitching command, or a sound volume change command, to the imagedisplay apparatus 100 through the IR module 423, as needed.

The user input unit 430 may include a keypad, a plurality of buttons, atouch pad, and/or a touch screen. The user may enter commands to theimage display apparatus 100 by manipulating the user input unit 430. Ifthe user input unit 230 includes a plurality of hard-key buttons, theuser may input various commands to the image display apparatus 100 bypressing the hard-key buttons. Alternatively or additionally, if theuser input unit 430 includes a touch screen displaying a plurality ofsoft keys, the user may input various commands to the image displayapparatus 100 by touching the soft keys. The user input unit 430 mayalso include various input tools other than those set forth herein, suchas a scroll key and/or a jog key, which should not be construed aslimiting the present invention.

The sensor unit 440 may include a gyro sensor 441 and/or an accelerationsensor 443. The gyro sensor 441 may sense the movement of the remotecontroller 200

For example, the gyro sensor 441 may sense the movement of the remotecontroller 200, for example, in X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, and theacceleration sensor 443 may sense the moving speed of the remotecontroller 200. The sensor unit 440 may further include a distancesensor for sensing the distance between the remote controller 200 andthe display 180.

The output unit 450 may output a video and/or audio signal correspondingto a manipulation of the user input unit 430 or a signal transmitted bythe image display apparatus 100. The user may easily identify whetherthe user input unit 430 has been manipulated or whether the imagedisplay apparatus 100 has been controlled based on the video and/oraudio signal output from the output unit 450.

The output unit 450 may include a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module 451which is turned on or off whenever the user input unit 430 ismanipulated or whenever a signal is received from or transmitted to theimage display apparatus 100 through the wireless communication module420, a vibration module 453 which generates vibrations, an audio outputmodule 455 which outputs audio data, and a display module 457 whichoutputs an image.

The power supply 460 supplies power to the remote controller 200. If theremote controller 200 is kept stationary for a predetermined time orlonger, the power supply 460 may, for example, reduce or cut off supplyof power to the remote controller 200 in order to save power. The powersupply 460 may resume supply of power if a specific key on the remotecontroller 200 is manipulated.

The memory 470 may store various programs and application data forcontrolling or operating the remote controller 200. The remotecontroller 200 may wirelessly transmit signals to and/or receive signalsfrom the image display apparatus 100 in a predetermined frequency bandthrough the RF module 421. The controller 480 of the remote controller200 may store information regarding the frequency band used for theremote controller 200 to wirelessly transmit signals to and/orwirelessly receive signals from the paired image display apparatus 100in the memory 470 and may then refer to this information for use at alater time.

The controller 480 provides overall control to the remote controller200. For example, the controller 280 may transmit a signal correspondingto a key manipulation detected from the user input unit 430 or a signalcorresponding to motion of the remote controller 200, as sensed by thesensor unit 440, to the image display apparatus 100 through the wirelesscommunication module 420.

The user input interface 150 of the image display apparatus 100 mayinclude a wireless communication module 151 which wirelessly transmitssignals to and/or wirelessly receives signals from the remote controller200, and a coordinate calculator 415 which calculates coordinatesrepresenting the position of the remote controller 200 on the displayscreen, which is to be moved in accordance with the movement of theremote controller 200.

The user input interface 150 may wirelessly transmit RF signals toand/or wirelessly receive RF signals from the remote controller 200through the RF module 412. In addition, the user input interface 150 maywirelessly receive IR signals from the remote controller 200 through theIR module 413 according to the IR communication standard.

The coordinate calculator 415 may receive motion information regardingthe movement of the remote controller 200 through the wirelesscommunication module 151 and may calculate coordinates (x, y)representing the position of the pointer 202 on a screen of the display180 by correcting the motion information for possible errors such asuser hand tremor.

A signal received in the image display apparatus 100 from the remotecontroller 200 through the interface 150 may be transmitted to thecontroller 170. Then, the controller 170 may acquire informationregarding the movement of the remote controller 200 and informationregarding a key manipulation detected from the remote controller 200from the signal received from the user input interface 150, and maycontrol the image display apparatus 100 based on the acquiredinformation.

In another example, the remote controller 200 may calculate thecoordinates of a position to which the pointer 205 is to be shifted incorrespondence with its movement and output the coordinates to the userinput interface 150 of the image display apparatus 100. In this case,the user input interface 150 may transmit information about the pointercoordinates which was not corrected for possible errors such as userhand tremor to the controller 170.

In a further example, unlike the configuration of the remote controller200 illustrated in FIG. 6, the coordinate calculator 415 may reside inthe controller 170, instead of the user input interface 150.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the server illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, the server 500 may include a network interface 730,a memory 740, and a processor 720.

The network interface 730 may receive channel number information andchannel name information (e.g. MBS, CBB, KBB, NCC, etc.) from one ormore image display apparatuses or channel map information from the imagedisplay apparatuses. The network interface 730 may further receiveinformation about program names (e.g. Oh! Lady, ABC news, DR. OZ, etc.)from the image display apparatuses in addition to the channel nameinformation.

The memory 740 preserves a plurality of channel maps. The channel mapsmay include a cable broadcasting (terrestrial and analog) channel map, aterrestrial analog broadcasting channel map, a satellite broadcastingchannel map, an IPTV channel map, etc. Cable broadcasting channel mapsmay be distinguished on a region basis or on a cable broadcastingservice type basis.

The processor 720 may select channel maps from among the plurality ofchannel maps stored in the memory 740 based on the channel mapinformation or the channel number and channel name information receivedfrom the image display apparatuses and may control transmission ofinformation about the selected channel maps to the respective imagedisplay apparatuses.

In the absence of a channel map corresponding to each of the imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n in the server 500, the processor 720may control reception and selection of the channel map from anotherserver.

In the case where a channel map corresponding to each of the imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n is not present in the server 500 andthe channel map is not available from another server, when a specificnumber of channel maps are the same from among channel maps receivedfrom the image display apparatuses 100 a to 100 n, the server 500 maycontrol the same channel map to be stored as a new channel map in thememory 740.

Meanwhile, the processor 720 may generate real-time viewer ratinginformation using real-time broadcasting information or broadcast imagesreceived from a plurality of image display apparatuses. The real-timeviewer rating information may include information about a channel share,the numbers of channel viewers, a program share of a specific channel,and the number of viewers for the specific channel. Besides, thereal-time viewer rating information may include real-time channel searchinformation or real-time program search information.

The processor 720 may determine whether images including broadcastinginformation received from a plurality of image display apparatuses arereal-time broadcast images by comparing the received images withreal-time broadcast images received through a network.

If the received images are real-time broadcast images, the processor 720may extract broadcasting information such as channel information andprogram information from the broadcast images and generate real-timeviewer rating information based on the extracted broadcastinginformation.

The network interface 730 may transmit the selected channel map orchannel number and channel name information included in the selectedchannel map to each image display apparatus.

In addition, the network interface 730 may transmit the real-time viewerrating information to at least one of the plurality of image displayapparatuses. It is preferred to transmit the real-time viewer ratinginformation to all image display apparatuses that have transmittedbroadcasting information or images including the broadcastinginformation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the serveraccording to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is adiagram illustrating a signal flow for performing an operation betweenthe image display apparatus and the server according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, and FIGS. 11A to 16E are views referred to fordescribing various examples of the method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8 or the method for operating theserver illustrated in FIG. 9.

First of all, the image display apparatus 100 enters channel scan mode(S810). The image display apparatus 100 may enter the channel scan modeautomatically or in response to reception of a user input. For instance,the channel scan mode may be automatic or manual.

FIG. 11A is an exemplary view illustrating automatic channel scan mode.Referring to FIG. 11A, when the image display apparatus 100 enters theautomatic channel scan mode in response to reception of a user input, itscans channels automatically. An object 1120 indicating automaticchannel scan may be displayed as illustrated in FIG. 11A.

The object 1120 indicating automatic channel scan may be displayedtogether with a broadcast image 1110 of CH 9 that the user is viewing.The object 1120 may be transparent so that the user can view theon-going broadcast image 1110.

Meanwhile, the controller 170 controls the image display apparatus 100to be set to the automatic channel scan mode, upon receipt of a userinput requesting the automatic channel scan mode. That is, thecontroller 170 controls channel scanning, while switching from onechannel to another in regard to input broadcast signals by controllingthe broadcasting receiver 105.

Subsequently, the image display apparatus 100 receives a broadcastsignal of a detected broadcast channel (S815) and determines whetherchannel number information and channel name information is included inthe broadcast signal (S820). If the broadcast signal does not includethe channel number information or the channel name information, theimage display apparatus 100 stores a broadcast image included in thebroadcast signal (S822). On the other hand, if the broadcast signalincludes the channel number information and the channel nameinformation, the image display apparatus 100 stores the channel numberinformation and channel name information (S823).

The image display apparatus 100 receives a detected broadcast signalthrough the broadcasting receiver 105.

For example, if broadcast signals are received through the antenna, thetuner unit 110 of the broadcasting receiver 105 may sequentially receivebroadcast images of a plurality of channels, while switching from onechannel to another. The controller 170 may control channel switchingthrough the tuner unit 110. The broadcast signals received through thetuner unit 110 are input to the controller 170 through the demodulator120.

If broadcast signals are received through the set-top box 250, that is,through the external device interface 130, the controller 170 maycontrol reception of broadcast images of a plurality of channels at theset-top box 250. For instance, the controller 170 may transmit a controlsignal for automatic channel scan to the set-top box 250. The broadcastsignals received through the external device interface 130 are input tothe controller 170.

Upon receipt of a broadcast signal, the controller 170 demultiplexes thebroadcast signal at the DEMUX 310 and determines whether a demultiplexeddata signal includes channel number information and channel nameinformation. For example, in the case of an ATSC digital broadcastsignal, channel number information and channel name information may beincluded in Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP). In the caseof a DVB digital broadcast signal, channel number information andchannel name information may be included in System Information (SI).

If the broadcast signal is a digital broadcast signal received throughthe antenna, the controller 170 extracts channel number information andchannel name information from the broadcast signal and stores theextracted channel number information and channel name information in thememory 140. The channel number information and channel name informationmay be stored in the form of a channel map in the memory 140.

FIG. 11B is an exemplary view illustrating reception of a firstbroadcast signal Sa on CH 9 in the image display apparatus 100. Thedisplay 180 of the image display apparatus 100 may display a firstbroadcast image 1130 corresponding to the received first broadcastsignal Sa. On the assumption that CH 9 is a digital broadcast channel,when a broadcast signal is received on CH 9 through the antenna, thememory 140 may store channel number information, 9 and channel nameinformation, KBS 1 in a channel map 1141 as done in step S823.

If the received broadcast signal is a digital broadcast signal receivedthrough the set-top box 250, the broadcast signal may include channelnumber information and channel name information. Then the controller 170may extract the channel number information and channel name informationfrom the broadcast signal and control storage of the channel numberinformation and channel name information in a channel map in the memory140.

On the contrary, if the received broadcast signal is an analog broadcastsignal, the broadcast signal may include only channel number informationwithout channel name information. In this case, the controller 170 maysubject the received broadcast signal to demultiplexing and video signalprocessing and may control storage of the processed broadcast image inthe memory 140. The stored broadcast image may be a still image. Thebroadcast image is preferably stored along with the channel numberinformation.

If the broadcast signal is a digital broadcast signal received throughthe set-top box 250, the broadcast signal may not include channel numberinformation or channel name information. For example, a digitalbroadcast signal provided by a cable system operator may not includechannel number information or channel name information. In this case,step S822 is performed as is done when an analog broadcast signal isreceived. That is, the controller 170 may process the received broadcastsignal by demultiplexing and video signal processing and may controlstorage of the processed broadcast image.

FIG. 11D is an exemplary view illustrating reception of a thirdbroadcast signal Sc on CH 20 in the image display apparatus 100. Thedisplay 180 of the image display apparatus 100 may display a thirdbroadcast image 1134 corresponding to the third broadcast signal Sc. Onthe assumption that CH 20 broadcasts an analog signal, the memory 140may store a video frame 1154 of the third broadcast image 1134 as donein step S822. Meanwhile, the memory 140 may further store channel numberinformation, 20 in a channel map 1144.

The image display apparatus 100 determines whether the channel scan hasbeen completed (S824). If the channel scan still runs, the next channelis scanned (S826). Steps S815 through S824 are repeated for a broadcastsignal of the next detected broadcast signal.

FIG. 11C is an exemplary view illustrating reception of a secondbroadcast signal Sb on CH 11 in the image display apparatus 100. Thedisplay 180 of the image display apparatus 100 may display a secondbroadcast image 1132 corresponding to the second broadcast signal Sb. Onthe assumption that CH 11 broadcasts a digital signal, when a broadcastsignal of CH 11 is received through the antenna, the memory 140 maystore channel number information, 11 and channel name information, MBCin a channel map 1142 in the memory 140 as done in step S823.

FIG. 11E is an exemplary view illustrating reception of a sixthbroadcast signal Sf on CH 23 in the image display apparatus 100. Thedisplay 180 of the image display apparatus 100 may display a sixthbroadcast image 1137 corresponding to the sixth broadcast signal Sf. Onthe assumption that CH 23 broadcasts an analog signal, the memory 140may store a video frame 1157 of the sixth broadcast image 1137 as donein step S822. Meanwhile, the memory 140 may further store channel numberinformation, 22 in a channel map 1147.

Upon completion of the channel scanning, the image display apparatus 100determines whether any stored broadcast image includes a channel nameimage (S840). In the presence of any stored broadcast image including achannel name image, the image display apparatus 100 extracts the channelname image and acquires the channel name of a channel that has broadcastthe broadcast image (S850) and stores channel number information andchannel name information associated with the channel in a channel map(S855).

When the channel scanning is completed in the channel scan mode, thecontroller 170 generates the channel map using the pre-stored broadcastimages.

Specifically, the controller 170 determines whether an image indicatinga channel name exists in a broadcast image stored in the memory 140.

FIG. 12A is an exemplary view illustrating determination of a channelname by detecting a log indicating the channel name in an image 1155 ofCH 21 stored in the memory 140.

The controller 170 may invoke the broadcast image 1155 of CH 21 anddetect a log. In general, the logo indicating the channel name isdisplayed at the top right corner, the bottom right corner, or the topleft corner of the broadcast image 1155. Thus, the controller 170extracts the displayed area of the log and detects the channel name bycomparing the logo or text included in the extracted area withpre-stored channel name information.

As noted from (a) of FIG. 12A, the controller 170 may extract a logo1212 from the top right corner of the broadcast image 1155 and detect achannel name 1214, tvN from the logo 1212.

As illustrated in (b) of FIG. 12A, the channel name 121, tvN may bestored along with the channel number, 21 in a channel map 1240 in thememory 140.

FIG. 12B is an exemplary view illustrating determination of a channelname by detecting a log indicating the channel name in an image 1153 ofCH 23 stored in the memory 140.

The controller 170 may invoke the broadcast image 1153 of CH 23 anddetect a log.

As noted from (a) of FIG. 12B, the controller 170 may extract a logo1222 from the top right corner of the broadcast image 1153 and detect achannel name 1224, New Y from the logo 1222.

As illustrated in (b) of FIG. 12B, the channel name 1224, New Y may bestored along with the channel number, 23 in a channel map 1242 in thememory 140.

In the absence of a broadcast image including a channel-name image instep S840, the image display apparatus 100 transmits to the server 500the channel number information and channel name information that havebeen determined until then (S870). Step S870 of FIG. 8 corresponds tostep S970 of FIG. 9 and step S1070 of FIG. 10.

In the absence of a broadcast image including a channel-name image for achannel, the controller 170 cannot determine the name of the channel.Therefore, the controller 170 may control transmission of the channelnumber information and channel name information that have been detectedso far to the server 500.

For example, the controller 170 may control transmission of anincomplete channel map 1242 that has been created so far to the server500 through the network interface 135 as illustrated in FIG. 12C.

Referring to FIG. 12C, the channel map 1242 lists the channel names ofdigital broadcast channels, CH 9 and CH 11 and the channel names ofanalog broadcast channels, CH 21 and CH 23, with the channel names ofanalog broadcast channels CH 20 and CH 22 left empty.

The server 500 receives the determined channel number information andchannel name information from the image display apparatus 100 (S970).The server 500 receives the determined channel number information andchannel name information from the image display apparatus 100 throughthe network interface 730. Alternatively, the network interface 730 mayreceive the incomplete channel map from the image display apparatus 100.Step S970 of FIG. 9 corresponds to step S870 of FIG. 8 and step S1070 ofFIG. 10.

Subsequently, the server 500 selects a channel map matching to thereceived channel number information and the channel name information(S973). The processor 720 of the server 500 selects a channel mapmatching to the channel number information and channel name informationreceived from the image display apparatus 100 from among a plurality ofchannel maps stored in the memory 740.

Step S973 of FIG. 9 corresponds to step S1073 of FIG. 10.

For example, since channel names are filled for some channels (i.e. CH9, CH 11, CH 21, and CH 23) in the channel map 1242 illustrated in FIG.12C, a matching complete channel map may be selected based on thechannel numbers (i.e. CH 9, CH 11, CH 21, and CH 23) and their channelnames (i.e. KBS1, MBC, tvN, and New Y).

The server 500 transmits information about the selected channel map tothe image display apparatus 100 (S975). The network interface 730 of theserver 500 transmits the information about the selected channel map tothe image display apparatus 100. Step S975 of FIG. 9 corresponds to stepS875 of FIG. 8 and step S1075 of FIG. 10.

For example, the server 500 may transmit a selected channel map 1244 tothe image display apparatus 100 through the network interface 135, asillustrated in FIG. 12D. Alternatively or additionally, the networkinterface 135 may transmit channel name information, KBC and SBC for thebroadcast channels, CH 20 and CH 22 for which channel names were leftempty in the channel map 1242 illustrated in FIG. 12C.

Then the image display apparatus 100 updates the channel map with thereceived channel map information (S880). Step S880 of FIG. 8 correspondsto step S1080 of FIG. 10.

The controller 170 may complete the incomplete channel map using thechannel map information received through the network interface 135.

Referring to FIG. 12D, upon receipt of the channel map 1244 selected bythe server 500, the image display apparatus 100 may replace itsincomplete channel map with the received channel map 1244. That is, theincomplete channel map may be updated to the received channel map 1244.

On the other hand, upon receipt of the channel name information, KBC andSBC for the broadcast channels CH 20 and CH 22 whose channel names areyet to be determined in the channel map 1242 illustrated in FIG. 12C,the image display apparatus 100 may update the incomplete channel map tothe channel map 1244 using the received channel name information.

Therefore, the image display apparatus 100 can readily acquire thechannel names, KBC and SBC of the channels CH 20 and CH 22 whose channelnames were not determined.

A step of determining whether the channel map has been completed, S890may follow step S855 or S880. If the channel map remains to becompleted, the procedure returns to step S840.

FIG. 13A is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of an incompletechannel map 1340, or location information or network information S1about the image display apparatus 100 from the image display apparatus100 to the server 500.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may controltransmission of the incomplete channel map 1340 or the locationinformation or network information S1 about the image display apparatus100 through the network interface 135.

The location information or network information S1 may include the IPaddress or region information of the image display apparatus 100. Theserver 500 may readily identify a broadcasting service provider to whichthe image display apparatus 100 subscribed to, using the locationinformation or network information S1.

The channel map 1340 has the channel names, OCN, Channel CGV, SUPERACTION, and SCREEN of CH 25, CH 26, CH 32 and CH 29, with the channelname of CH 52 left empty.

FIG. 13B is an exemplary view illustrating selection of a channel map inthe server 500.

The processor 720 of the server 500 may use the incomplete channel map1340 or the location information or network information S1 about theimage display apparatus 100 received through the network interface 730,as indicated by (a) of FIG. 13B.

That is, the processor 720 may filter a plurality of channel maps 1350stored in the memory 740 using the incomplete channel map 1340 or thelocation information or network information S1, as indicated by (b) ofFIG. 13B.

For example, if the location information or network information S1indicates a specific region (e.g. Seochogu in Seoul, Korea), theprocessor 720 of the server 500 may search only a list 1360 ofbroadcasting service providers that provide broadcasting services to thespecific region among a list 1350 of plural service providers stored inthe memory 740, as indicated by (c) of FIG. 13B.

(c) of FIG. 13B illustrates exemplary extraction of three broadcastingservice providers 1362, 1364, and 1366.

The processor 720 of the server 500 compares the received incompletechannel map 1340 with channel maps associated with the threebroadcasting service providers 1362, 1364, and 1366 and then selects achannel map matching to the incomplete channel map 1340.

FIG. 13C is an exemplary view illustrating comparison between thereceived incomplete channel map 1340 with channel maps 1372, 1374, and1376 associated with the three broadcasting service providers 1362,1364, and 1366. As noted from FIG. 13C, the first channel map 1372matches to the incomplete channel map 1340. Thus the channel name YSS ofCH 52 is determined from the first channel map 1372.

The processor 720 of the server 500 may control transmission of theselected channel map 1372 to the image display apparatus 100.

FIG. 13D is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of informationabout the selected channel map 1372 from the server 500. The channel mapinformation may include information about the broadcasting serviceprovider 1343 that provides broadcasting service to the image displayapparatus 100 in addition to channel number information and channel nameinformation. The broadcasting service provider information may betransmitted separately from the channel map information.

Meanwhile, the channel map information may include information about abroadcasting service type received from the broadcasting serviceprovider in addition to the channel number information and the channelname information.

FIG. 13E is an exemplary view illustrating different channel maps 1382,1384, and 1386 for different broadcasting service types provided by thesame broadcasting service provider. Three-level channel maps aredefined: the economical-type channel map 1382, the basic-type channelmap 1384, and the premium-type channel map 1386. The processor 720 ofthe server 500 may compare the incomplete channel map received from theimage display apparatus 100 with the channel maps 1382, 1384, and 1386classified by broadcasting service type and select the channel map 1386matching to the incomplete channel map.

FIG. 13F is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of channel mapinformation associated with the selected channel map 1386 from theserver 500. In addition to channel number information and channel nameinformation, the channel map information may include information 1344(i.e. premium) about a broadcasting service type provided to the imagedisplay apparatus 100. The broadcasting service type information may betransmitted separately from the channel map information.

FIG. 14A is an exemplary view illustrating reception of informationabout incomplete channel maps 1440 a to 1440 c from a plurality of imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n at the server 500.

The server 500 may select matching channel maps by comparing theincomplete channels maps 1440 a to 1440 c received from the imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n with channel maps 1450 stored in theserver 500.

In FIG. 14A, the server 500 is shown as selecting a matching channel mapfor the first image display apparatus 100 a by comparing the channel map1440 a received from the first image display apparatus 100 a with thestored channel maps 1450, by way of example.

The server 500 may transmit information about the selected channel mapsto the respective image display apparatuses 100 a to 100 n.

FIG. 14B is an exemplary view illustrating reception of informationabout the same incomplete channel map 1440 a from the plurality of imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n at the server 500.

The server 500 may select a matching channel map by comparing theincomplete channels map 1440 a received from the image displayapparatuses 100 a to 100 n with the channel maps 1450 stored in theserver 500.

It may occur that none of the stored channel maps 1450 match to theincomplete channel map 1440 a.

In this case, if a specific number of channel maps are identical amongthe channel maps received from the image display apparatuses 100 a to100 n, the server 500 may store the identical channel map as a newchannel map. Herein, it is preferred to complete the identicalincomplete channel map using the channel maps received from the imagedisplay apparatuses 100 a to 100 n and then store the completed channelmap.

FIG. 14C is an exemplary view illustrating adding the channel map 1440 ato the existing channel maps 1450 and storing the resulting updatedchannel maps 1460. Preferably, the channel map 1440 a is completed byfilling all channel names and then added.

The image display apparatus 100 may store a completed channel map byexchanging data, particularly, channel map information with the server500.

Upon receipt of a user input or upon completion of the channel map, theimage display apparatus 100 may display an object 1520 representing thechannel map on the display 180, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The channelmap object 1520 may be displayed together with a broadcast image 1510.Therefore, the user can readily identify channel names corresponding tochannel numbers.

The image display apparatus 100 may also display real-time viewer ratinginformation by exchanging data with the server 500.

FIG. 16A is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of broadcastinginformation 1630 or an image 1625 including the broadcasting informationfrom the image display apparatus 100 to the server 500.

While the broadcasting information 1630 is shown in FIG. 16A astransmitted in the form of an image, this is purely exemplary. Thus, thebroadcasting information 1630 may be text data. For instance, thebroadcasting information 1630 may be text data indicating “MBS HD”or/and “Infinite Challenge”.

While the image 1625 including the broadcasting information is shown asa whole broadcast image, it may include only a broadcasting informationpart. That is, reference numeral 1630 denotes an image including thebroadcasting information.

FIG. 16B is an exemplary view illustrating determination made at theserver 500 as to whether the image 1625 received from the image displayapparatus 100 is a real-time broadcast by comparing the image 1625 withreal-time broadcast images 1640 received through a network.

The server 500 may receive real-time broadcast images 1640 a to 1640 dthrough the network and store them in the memory 740.

The processor 720 of the server 500 compares the image 1625 receivedfrom the image display apparatus 100 with the real-time broadcast images1640 a to 1640 d. If the image 1625 is identical to any of the real-timebroadcast images 1640 a to 1640 d, the processor 720 determines that theimage 1625 is a real-time broadcast image.

To perform the operation, the processor 720 may use a video patterncomparison algorithm.

In FIG. 16B, the image 1625 is shown as identical to the secondreal-time broadcast image 1640 b, by way of example.

FIG. 16C is an exemplary view illustrating generation of real-timeviewer rating information 1650 at the server 500.

The real-time viewer rating information 1650 may be generated, takinginto account broadcasting information or broadcast images that the imagedisplay apparatus 100 receives through both the set-top box 250 and thebroadcasting receiver 105.

In FIG. 16C, the real-time viewer rating information 1650 is specifiedas the numbers of viewers.

FIG. 16D is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of real-timeviewer rating information 1655 from the server 500 to the image displayapparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive the real-time viewer ratinginformation 1655 from the server 500 through the network interface 135.

FIG. 16E is an exemplary view illustrating display of a real-time viewerrating object 1665 along with a broadcast image 1660 on the imagedisplay apparatus 100.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may generate thereal-time viewer rating object 1665 based on the real-time viewer ratinginformation 1655 received from the server 500 and may control display ofthe real-time viewer rating object 1665 on the display 180.

In FIG. 16E, broadcasting information 1620 including channelinformation, ‘MBS HD’ and program information, ‘Infinite Challenge’ isalso displayed, by way of example. Therefore, the user can readily viewreal-time viewer rating information. Since the user can switch to orview another broadcast channel or broadcast program according to viewerratings, user convenience can be increased.

Meanwhile, the image display apparatus 100 may determine whether areceived broadcast signal is a real-time broadcast signal.

For example, the image display apparatus 100 may receive the real-timebroadcast images 1640 through the network, as illustrated in FIG. 16B.Then the image display apparatus 100 may determine whether the image1625 received from the set-top box 250 is a real-time broadcast image bycomparing the image 1625 with the real-time broadcast images 1640.

If the image 1625 is identical to any of the real-time broadcast images1640, the image display apparatus 100 may determine that the image 1625is a real-time broadcast image and extract real-time broadcastinginformation from the image 1625.

As described before, when the same text, figure, or symbol is displayedfor a predetermined time in a specific area of a real-time broadcastimage, for example, at a corner of the real-time broadcast image, theimage display apparatus 100 may extract the specific area, consideringthat the specific area includes broadcasting information.

Then the image display apparatus 100 may extract real-time channelinformation, ‘MBS HD’ or program information, ‘Infinite Challenge’ fromthe specific area and may transmit the real-time broadcastinginformation to the server 500. The image display apparatus 100 mayattach a tag ‘live’ to the real-time broadcasting information.

Even though the received broadcast image is not a real-time broadcastimage, the image display apparatus 100 may extract broadcastinginformation in the afore-described method. The image display apparatus100 may transmit recorded broadcasting information, not livebroadcasting information to the server 500. The image display apparatus100 may attach a tag ‘record’ to the recorded broadcasting information.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

The operation method illustrated in FIG. 17 is similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 8, except that a channel map is generated duringchannel scanning rather than the channel map is generated after channelscanning is completed. Accordingly, the step of storing a broadcastimage (S822) and the step of storing a channel number and a channel name(S823) described before with reference to FIG. 8 may not be performedherein. The following description is given, centering on the differencefrom the operation method of FIG. 8.

Steps S1710, S1715, and S1720 correspond to steps S810, S815, and S820of FIG. 8, respectively and their description is not provided herein.

Steps S1740 through S1755 are performed in the same manner as steps S840through S855 of FIG. 8, except that the steps are repeated duringscanning each channel, not after channel scanning is completed as donein FIG. 8.

Steps S1770, S1775 and S1780 correspond to steps S870, S875 and S880 ofFIG. 8.

The image display apparatus 100 determines whether channel scanning hasbeen completed (S1760). Upon completion of the channel scanning, theimage display apparatus 100 scans the next channel (S1765). Then theprocedure returns to step S1715.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operatingthe remote controller according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operatingthe server according to another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for performing anoperation among the image display apparatus, the server, the remotecontroller, and the set-top box according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIGS. 22 to 24 are views referred to fordescribing various examples of the operating method illustrated in FIG.18, 19 or 20.

First of all, the image display apparatus 100 receives a broadcastsignal from the set-top box 250 (S1805). Step S1805 corresponds to stepS2105 of FIG. 21.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive a cable broadcast signal, asatellite broadcast signal, a terrestrial broadcast signal, or an IPTVbroadcast signal through the set-top box 250. The received broadcastsignal is provided to the controller 170 through the external deviceinterface 130.

The controller 170 processes the received broadcast signal, for example,by demultiplexing, decoding, etc. thereby converting the broadcastsignal to a signal that can be displayed on the display 180.

The controller 170 controls display of a broadcast image correspondingto the broadcast signal received from the set-top box 250 on the display180.

Then the image display apparatus 100 determines whether an imageindicating a channel name or a program name exists in the broadcastimage of the broadcast signal (S1810). In the presence of an imageindicating a channel name or a program name in the broadcast image ofthe broadcast signal, the image display apparatus 100 extracts the imageindicating a channel name or a program name (S1820) and transmits theextracted image to the server 500 (S1830). Steps S1810 and S1820correspond to steps S2110 and S2120 of FIG. 21, respectively. Step S1830corresponds to step S2030 of FIG. 20 and S2130 of FIG. 21.

The controller 170 determines the existence of an image indicating achannel name or a program name in the broadcast image of the broadcastsignal received from the set-top box 250.

Specifically, the controller 170 may detect a log using a logo imageindicating the name of a broadcast channel or a logo image indicatingthe name of a specific program.

In general, the logo image indicating the channel name or the logo imageindicating the program name is displayed at the top right corner, thebottom right corner, or the top left corner of the broadcast image.Thus, the controller 170 extracts the displayed area of the logo imageand detects the logo or text from the area.

The image display apparatus 100 may transmit the detected imageindicating the channel name or program name to the server 500 throughthe network interface 135.

The server 500 may receive the image indicating the channel name orprogram name of the broadcast image displayed on the image displayapparatus 100 through the network interface 730. The image may beprovided to the processor 720 of the server 500.

Then the server 500 extracts real-time broadcasting information based onthe received image and a real-time broadcast image (S2033) and generatesreal-time viewer rating information (S2036). The server 500 transmitsthe real-time viewer rating information to at least one of a pluralityof image display apparatuses (S2040). Steps S2033 and S2036 correspondto step S2133 and S2136 of FIG. 21 and step S2040 corresponds to stepS1840 of FIG. 18 and step S2140 of FIG. 21.

Specifically, the processor 720 of the server 500 may generate real-timeviewer rating information using real-time broadcasting informationreceived from a plurality of image display apparatuses. The real-timeviewer rating information may include information about a channel share,the number of channel viewers, a program share of a specific channel,the number of viewers for the specific channel, etc. The real-timeviewer rating information may further include real-time channel searchinformation or real-time program search information.

The processor 720 may determine whether images including broadcastinginformation received from a plurality of image display apparatuses arereal-time broadcast images by comparing the received images withreal-time broadcast images received through the network.

In the case of a real-time broadcast image, the processor 720 mayextract broadcasting information such as channel information, programinformation, etc. from the broadcast image and generate real-time viewerrating information based on the extracted broadcasting information inthe afore-described manner.

The network interface 730 may transmit the real-time viewer ratinginformation to at least one of the image display apparatuses.Preferably, the real-time viewer rating information is transmitted toall image display apparatuses that have transmitted broadcastinginformation or images including the broadcasting information.

Subsequently, the image display apparatus 100 displays an objectrepresenting the received real-time viewer rating information (S1850).Step S1850 corresponds to step S2150 of FIG. 21.

The real-time viewer rating object may include a plurality of broadcastprogram items. Especially, the real-time broadcast program items may bearranged in the order of their viewer ratings. The real-time viewerrating object may further include broadcast program type items, areal-time ranking item, a daily ranking item, a weekly ranking item, anda monthly ranking item. The broadcast program items may be arranged bytype, real-time ranking, daily ranking, weekly ranking, and monthlyranking. Accordingly, since a plurality of broadcast programs arearranged according to various criteria, user convenience can beincreased.

The real-time viewer rating object may not include channel numberinformation. That is, the real-time viewer rating object may beconfigured to include a plurality of program-based program items.

Upon receipt of an input requesting selection of a specific program(S1865), the image display apparatus 100 transmits channel informationabout the program to the set-top box 250 or the remote controller 200(S1870). Then the image display apparatus 100 receives a broadcastsignal of the selected program from the set-top box 250 (S1880) anddisplays the selected broadcast program (S1890). Step S1865 correspondsto step S1965 of FIG. 19 and step S2165 of FIG. 21. Step S1870corresponds to step S1970 of FIG. 19 and step S2170 of FIG. 21. StepsS1880 and S1890 correspond to steps S2180 and S2190 of FIG. 21.

With the object including the plurality of broadcast program itemsdisplayed on the display 180 of the image display apparatus 100, theuser may select one of the broadcast program items using the remotecontroller (S1965).

The user input interface 150 of the image display apparatus 100 mayreceive a remote control signal from the remote controller 200 andselect a broadcast program according to the remote control signal.

Especially when the remote controller 200 outputs a pointing signalcorresponding to its movement as described before with reference to FIG.5, the controller 170 of the image display apparatus 170 may controlreception of the pointing signal and display of a pointer image on thedisplay 180 based on the pointing signal. The controller 170 may selectone of the plurality of broadcast program items based on the pointingsignal.

Meanwhile, the image display apparatus 100 may transmit channelinformation about the selected program to the remote controller 200.Upon selection of one of the plurality of broadcast programs included inthe object, the controller 170 may extract channel number information orchannel name information about the selected program from a channel mapstored in the memory 140.

The controller 170 may transmit the channel number information orchannel name information about the selected program to the remotecontroller 200. Or the controller 170 may transmit the channel numberinformation or channel name information about the selected programdirectly to the set-top box 250.

The remote controller 200 may receive the channel number information orchannel name information about the selected program from the user inputinterface 150 of the image display apparatus 100.

Then the remote controller 200 may transmit information about thechannel number of the program based on the received channel number orchannel name information to the set-top box 250.

The remote controller 200 may communicate with the set-top box 250 by IRcommunication and with the image display apparatus 100 by RFcommunication. Since the remote controller 200 exchanges data with theimage display apparatus 100 in an RF-based manner but with an externaldevice such as the set-top box 250 in an IR-based manner, the remotecontroller 200 may be referred to as an IR blaster.

To conduct the IR communication, the remote controller 200 may receivekey values for remotely controlling the set-top box 250, from theset-top box 250, the image display apparatus 100, or the server 500.When the set-top box 250 is powered on, the key values may be receivedfrom the set-top box 250, the image display apparatus 100, or the server500.

The set-top box 250 receives a broadcast signal of a channelcorresponding to the received channel number information. For thispurpose, the set-top box 250 may receive the selected channel throughthe tuner 270 or a stream of the channel through the network interface255.

The set-top box 250 transmits the received broadcast signal of thechannel to the image display apparatus 100. The external deviceinterface 130 of the image display apparatus 100 receives the broadcastsignal of the selected program from the set-top box 250. The controller170 of the image display apparatus 100 processes the received broadcastsignal by demultiplexing, decoding, etc. and controls display of theselected program on the display 180.

FIG. 22 and FIGS. 16A to 16E are views referred to for describing stepsS1805 through S1850 of FIG. 18. For FIGS. 16A to 16E, their alreadygiven description will be referred to.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of a broadcastsignal 2210 from the set-top box 250 to the image display apparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 may display a broadcast image 2215corresponding to the received broadcast signal 2210 on the display 180.

Particularly, the broadcast image 2215 may include broadcastinginformation 2220 representing a channel name ‘MBS HD’ and a program name‘Infinite Challenge’.

Meanwhile, the image display apparatus 100 transmits the image 1630including the channel name and the program name or the broadcast image1625 including the channel name and the program name to the server 500in FIG. 16A.

In FIG. 16B, the server 500 determines whether the received image 1625is a real-time broadcast image by comparing the image 1625 with thereal-time broadcast images 1640 received through the network.

In FIG. 16C, the server 500 generates the real-time viewer ratinginformation 1650.

In FIG. 16D, the server 500 transmits the real-time viewer ratinginformation 1655 to the image display apparatus 100.

In FIG. 16E, the image display apparatus 100 displays the real-timeviewer rating object 1665 along with the broadcast image 1660.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may controlgeneration of the real-time viewer rating object 1665 using thereal-time viewer rating information 1655 received from the server 500and thus may control display of the object 1665 on the display 180.

The broadcasting information 1620 indicating the channel name ‘MBS HD’and the program name ‘Infinite Challenge’ is also displayed, by way ofexample.

Therefore, the user can readily view real-time viewer ratinginformation. In addition, as the user can switch to another broadcastchannel or broadcast program according to the viewer ratings, userconvenience can be increased.

Meanwhile, the image display apparatus 100 may generate a channel map inthe channel scan mode. Channel information may be extracted from thechannel map in step S1870.

The channel map generation of the image display apparatus 100 has beendescribed with reference to FIGS. 11A to 12D and thus its description isnot provided herein.

FIGS. 23A to 23E are views referred to for describing steps S1865 toS1890 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 23A is an exemplary view illustrating display of a broadcast image2360 corresponding to a broadcast signal received from the set-top box250 on the display 180 of the image display apparatus 100. A viewerrating object 2365 may further be displayed together with the broadcastimage 2360 on the display 180.

Particularly, the broadcast image 2360 may include broadcastinginformation 2320 representing a channel name ‘MBS HD’ and a program name‘Infinite Challenge’.

In FIG. 23A, for IR communication between the remote controller 200 andthe set-top box 250, the image display apparatus 100 transmits keyvalues RF1 for remotely controlling the set-top box 250 to the remotecontroller 200. The image display apparatus 100 may transmit the keyvalues RF1 for remotely controlling the set-top box 250 to the remotecontroller 200 by RF communication.

FIG. 23B is an exemplary view illustrating selection of a specificprogram item 2310 from among a plurality of program items listed in theviewer rating object 2365 using a pointing signal RF2 from the remotecontroller 200. A pointer image 205 corresponding to the pointing signalRF2 of the remote controller 200 points at the program item 2310, thusselecting the program item 2310 in FIG. 23B. The remote controller 200may transmit the pointing signal RF2 for selecting the program item 2310to the image display apparatus 100 by RF communication.

FIG. 23C is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of channelinformation RF3 about the selected program item 2310 from the imagedisplay apparatus 100 to the remote controller 200.

For example, if the channel number and channel name of the selectedprogram item ‘KBC News’ are CH 20 and KBC, respectively, the imagedisplay apparatus 100 may transmit channel information RF3 including atleast one of the channel number and the channel name to the remotecontroller 200 by RF communication.

Meanwhile, upon selection of a program item, the image display apparatus100 may detect a channel number matching to the program item in apre-stored channel map. The channel map may be generated in the methoddescribed before with reference to FIGS. 11A to 14C. For an example ofthe channel map, FIG. 15 is referred to.

Specifically, the controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 mayextract the channel number of the selected program item by comparing theselected program item with the channel map stored in the memory 140.

FIG. 23D is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of channelnumber information IR1 about the selected program item 2310 from theremote controller 200 to the set-top box 250.

For example, the remote controller 200 may transmit a key value IR1 ofthe channel number information CH 20 about ‘KBC News’ to the set-top box250.

Therefore, the set-top box 250 receives a broadcast signal of theselected channel CH 20 by channel switching and transmits the receivedbroadcast signal to the image display apparatus 100, as illustrated inFIG. 23E. Eventually, the image display apparatus 100 may display abroadcast image 1420 of CH 20 on the display 180. Due to the channelswitching, an object 1425 indicating the channel number CH 20 and thechannel name KBC may be displayed.

In the case of broadcast signals provided by cable system operators,different cable system operators may assign different channel names tothe same channel number or the same cable system operator may assigndifferent channel names to the same channel number according tosubscribed broadcasting service types. As more and more channel numbersare created, channel numbers do not accurately match to channel names,inconveniently.

As described before, it is preferred to display an object listing aplurality of program items such as a viewer rating object and select aprogram from the object, rather than a program is viewed by selecting achannel number.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, one of aplurality of broadcast program items is selected in a program-basedfashion without channel number information. Therefore, the image displayapparatus can display a user-intended broadcast program reliably.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary object listing a plurality of programitems.

Referring to FIG. 24, upon receipt of viewer rating information from theserver 500, the image display apparatus 100 may display a broadcastprogram list 2400 that lists a plurality of broadcast program itemsaccording to their viewer ratings.

The broadcast program list 2400 may include a viewer rating object thatprovides viewer rating information. For instance, the viewer ratingobject may provide real-time viewer rating information.

The real-time viewer rating object may include a plurality of broadcastprogram items. Particularly, the real-time broadcast program items maybe arranged in the order of their viewer ratings. Thus, the real-timeviewer rating object may further include broadcast program type items2405 and a real-time/daily/weekly/monthly ranking item 2415 so thatbroadcast program items 2410 may be arranged by type, real-time ranking,daily ranking, weekly ranking, and monthly ranking.

Each broadcast program item may include a program name and a thumbnailimage of the program. Therefore, the user can readily identify theprogram.

That is, the broadcast program list lists broadcast program items byviewer rating and each broadcast program item includes its thumbnailimage.

Upon selection of a program item 2412 from among the program items 2410,a detailed information item 2425, a view item 2443, a thumbnail imageitem 2446, and detailed information 2449 may further be displayed inregard to the selected program 2412. Therefore, user convenience can beincreased.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the real-time viewer rating object may notinclude channel number information. This means that the real-time viewerrating object may list a plurality of program items in a program-basedmanner.

In general, a cable system operator assigns different channel numbers tothe same channel in different regions. Therefore, it may be difficult tomatch channel numbers in a broadcast program list including real-timeviewer rating information, as illustrated in FIG. 24. Although channelnumbers can be set with respect to the image display apparatus 100, theembodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a broadcastprogram list is made based on broadcast program names without channelnumbers.

That is, each broadcast program item may include a program name, aplaying time, and a thumbnail image of the broadcast program, withoutthe channel number of the broadcast program, as illustrated in FIG. 24.

In this manner, one of a plurality of broadcast program items can beselected in a program-based fashion without channel number information.Accordingly, the user can view an intended broadcast program easily.

Especially when the user selects an intended broadcast program item byvoice, the image display apparatus 100 can readily select the broadcastprogram item in the broadcast program list 2400 by voice recognition.

Since the program list 2400 is created based on program items, not basedon channel numbers, a user-intended program can be selected simply andaccurately by voice recognition.

It is also possible to select a broadcast program in the broadcastprogram list 2400 using the pointer 205 representing movement of theremote controller 200.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operatingthe server according to another embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for performing anoperation between the image display apparatus and the server accordingto another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 28A to 28G areviews referred to for describing the operation method illustrated inFIG. 25 or 26.

Steps S2505 to S2530 correspond to steps S1805 to S1830 of FIG. 18 andthus their description is not provided herein. Steps S2505 to S2530 alsocorrespond to steps S2705 to S2730 of FIG. 27.

The server 500 extracts real-time broadcasting information based on areceived image (S2635). Step S2635 may correspond to step S2735 of FIG.27.

Specifically, the processor 720 of the server 500 may generate real-timeviewer rating information using real-time broadcasting informationreceived from each of a plurality of image display apparatuses. Thereal-time viewer rating information may include information about achannel share, the number of channel viewers, a program share of aspecific channel, the number of viewers for the specific channel, etc.The real-time viewer rating information may further include real-timechannel search information or real-time program search information.

The image display apparatus 100 receives a command requesting detailedinformation (S2540) and transmits the detailed information requestcommand to the server 500 (S2550). Steps S2540 and S2550 correspond tosteps S2740 and S2750 of FIG. 27.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive a user input being thedetailed information request command, while it is displaying a broadcastprogram. For example, the detailed information request command may bereceived by input of a specific key of the remote controller 200.Detailed information may be about a background, persons, products, etc.appearing in a broadcast image.

In another example, the detailed information request command may bereceived by a user input, while an advertisement is being displayedafter a broadcast program ends. For instance, the detailed informationrequest command may be received by input of a specific key of the remotecontroller 200. Detailed information may refer to details of a productappearing in the advertisement.

Upon receipt of the detailed information request command, the controller170 of the image display apparatus 100 may transmit the detailedinformation request command to the server 500 in order to displaydetailed information.

Then the server 500 receives the detailed information externally (S2655)and transmits the detailed information to the image display apparatus100 (S2660). Steps S2655 corresponds to step S2755 of FIG. 27 and stepsS2660 corresponds to step S2560 of FIG. 25 and step S2760 of FIG. 27.

Specifically, the processor 720 of the server 500 collects detailedinformation in response to the detailed information request command.Especially in the case of a real-time broadcast image, the server 500may receive metadata regarding the detailed information from abroadcasting station server.

The processor 720 of the server 500 may control transmission of thereceived metadata to the image display apparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 displays the received detailedinformation (S2570). Step S2570 corresponds to step S2770 of FIG. 27.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 controls displayof the received detailed information along with a broadcast image.

FIGS. 28A to 28G are views referred to for describing the method foroperating the image display apparatus illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIG. 28A is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of a broadcastsignal 2810 from the set-top box 250 to the image display apparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 may display a broadcast image 2825corresponding to the received broadcast signal 2810 on the display 180.

Especially, the broadcast image 2825 may include broadcastinginformation 2820 such as channel name information ‘MBS HD’ at itscorner.

As a broadcast program ends, only the channel name information is shownin the broadcast image in the illustrated case of FIG. 28A. That is, thebroadcast image 2825 may be an advertisement image.

FIG. 28B is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of a channelname image 2030 or the broadcast image 2825 including the channel namefrom the image display apparatus 100 to the server 500.

While the broadcast image 2825 is a full broadcast image in FIG. 28B,the broadcast image 2825 may include only a broadcasting informationpart. That is, reference numeral 2030 denotes the image includingbroadcasting information.

FIG. 28C is an exemplary view illustrating input of a detailedinformation request command Smo to the image display apparatus 100 bymanipulation of a specific key in the remote controller 200. The imagedisplay apparatus 100 may display an object 2835 representing a detailedinformation request on the display 180.

In FIG. 28C, the image display apparatus 100 also transmits a detailedinformation request command Sde to the server 500, by way of example.

FIG. 28D is an exemplary view illustrating determining matching detailedinformation by comparing detailed information 2840 received through thenetwork with the image 2825 received from the image display apparatus100 at the server 500.

Because the server 500 determines a channel number for the image displayapparatus 100 from the channel name image 2030 or the broadcast image2825 including the channel name received from the image displayapparatus 100, the server 500 may access a broadcasting station serverrelated to the channel number, receive detailed information items 2840a, 2840 b and 2840 c from the broadcasting station server through thenetwork, and store the detailed information items 2840 a, 2840 b and2840 c in the memory 740.

To be more specific, the server 500 may receive detailed informationitems about time-scheduled advertisements from the broadcasting stationserver and store the detailed information items in the memory 740.

The processor 720 of the server 500 compares the received image 2825with the detailed information items 2840 a, 2840 b, and 2840 c. If anyof the detailed information items 2840 a, 2840 b, and 2840 c matches tothe image 2825, the processor 720 determines that the matchinginformation item is detailed information about the image 2825.

In the illustrated case of FIG. 28D, the second detailed informationitem 2840 b corresponds to the image 2825, by way of example.

FIG. 28E is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of detailedinformation 2850 related to the second detailed information item fromthe server 500 to the image display apparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive the detailed information2850 from the server 500 through the network interface 135.

FIG. 28F is an exemplary view illustrating display of an object 2865representing the detailed information along with a broadcast image 2060in the image display apparatus 100.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may generate thedetailed information object 2865 using the detailed information 2850received from the server 500 and may control display of the detailedinformation object 2865 on the display 180. Therefore, the user canreadily view details of a broadcast image, while viewing the broadcastimage.

FIG. 28G is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of the detailedinformation received from the server to a nearby portable terminal 2800by the image display apparatus 100 and display of the detailedinformation object 2865 on the display of the portable terminal 2800.

Since the broadcast image 2825 is displayed on the display 180 of theimage display apparatus 100 and the detailed information object 2865 isdisplayed on the display of the portable terminal 2800, the user canobtain the details of the on-going broadcast image, while viewing thebroadcast image without interruptions.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting animage including broadcasting information in the image display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 31Ato 33B are views referred to for describing various examples of theoperation method illustrated in FIG. 29.

The image display apparatus 100, particularly the controller 170determines whether a recording mode has been set (S2910). The recordingmode may be set in response to reception of a user input.

For example, when the user enters an input requesting display of ascheduled recording menu to schedule recording of a program, thecontroller 170 may control display of the scheduled recording menu onthe display 180.

FIG. 31A is an exemplary view illustrating a user's selection of anintended program item 3110 on an EPG screen 3100 displayed on thedisplay 180. As the user selects the program item 3110 on the EPG screen3100, he or she can set the recording mode for the broadcast program.

While the remote controller 200 capable of displaying a pointer is shownin FIG. 31A, this is purely exemplary. Thus, the program item 3110 maybe selected by manipulating a directional key of a general remotecontroller or a directional key given as a local key.

When the recording mode has been set in this manner, the image displayapparatus 100, particularly the controller 170 determines whether it istime to record the program (S2915). If it is time to record the program,the controller 170 controls reception of a broadcast signal of theprogram according to the recording mode (S2920).

In FIG. 31A, in the case where the recording-scheduled program 3110starts at 8:00 PM, the controller 170 determines whether it is time torecord the program 3110. If it is time to record the program 3110, thecontroller 170 controls reception of a broadcast signal of the program3110 in the recording mode.

For instance, if it is time to record the program 3110 while the user isviewing CH 6-1 through the image display apparatus 100, the controller170 may control the broadcasting receiver 105 to receive a broadcastsignal on CH 7-1 for which the recording mode has been set.

If the image display apparatus 100 is provided with a plurality oftuners, while a broadcast signal is being received on the currentchannel CH 6.1 through the first tuner, a broadcast signal is alsoreceived on CH 7-1 through the second tuner, starting from the recordingtime. Therefore, the image display apparatus 100 can continue displayinga broadcast image corresponding to the broadcast signal of CH 6-1irrespective of the recording mode.

On the contrary, if the image display apparatus 100 has a single tuner,the tuner may switch from CH 6-1 to CH 7-1 to thereby receive abroadcast signal on CH 7-1. Therefore, when the recording time comesduring displaying a broadcast image of CH 6-1, the image displayapparatus 100 may start to display a broadcast image of CH 7-1.

When the image display apparatus 100 is powered off before the recordingstarts, the image display apparatus 100 may be powered on again andreceive a broadcast signal of the recording-scheduled channel at thescheduled recording time.

Then the image display apparatus 100, particularly the controller 170determines whether an image including broadcasting information isincluded in the broadcast signal (S2925). In the presence of abroadcasting information image (S2930), the image display apparatus 100stores broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast signal in therecording mode (S2935). In the absence of a broadcasting informationimage (S2930), the image display apparatus 100 does not store thebroadcast content corresponding to the broadcast signal in the recordingmode (S2940).

In the case where the recording mode is set using the EPG informationreceived in a broadcast signal as illustrated in FIG. 31A, anadvertisement interposed between programs may also be recorded.

In FIG. 31A, while the EPG reveals that the program item 3110 ‘Oh! Lady’scheduled to be recorded starts on 8:00 PM and the previous program‘Bring It On’ also ends on 8:00 PM, the recording-scheduled program ‘Oh!Lady’ may actually start at a different time, for example, at 8:05 or8:10 PM. The starting time of a broadcast program may be changed underthe circumstances of a broadcasting station.

In this context, an embodiment of the present invention provides amethod for recording only an intended broadcast program without anyadvertisement.

For this purpose, the controller 170 determines whether a broadcastinginformation image exists in a received broadcast signal.

With reference to FIG. 30, a method for determining whether an imageincluding broadcasting information exists in a broadcast signal will bedescribed below.

Referring to FIG. 30, the controller 170 extracts a broadcast image of achannel for which the recording mode has been set in order to determinewhether a broadcasting information image exists in the broadcast signal(S3010).

The controller 170 extracts a broadcast image of a recording-scheduledbroadcast program. For example, the video processor 320 of FIG. 3 mayextract an image on a frame basis from a decoded broadcast video.

Then the controller 170 compares the extracted broadcast image with apre-stored broadcasting information image or a broadcasting informationimage received through the network (S3020) and determines whether anarea corresponding to the broadcasting information image exists in theextracted broadcast image (S3030).

In the embodiment of the present invention, an image is classified as aprogram image or an advertisement image depending on whether the imageincludes a channel name (e.g. MBS, CBB, KBB, NCC, etc.) or a logoindicating the channel name.

To distinguish a program image from an advertisement image, thecontroller 170 compares the extracted broadcast image with broadcastinformation images stored in the memory 140 or broadcasting informationimages received through the network interface 135.

Broadcasting information images may be classified by broadcast channelin the memory 140. The broadcasting information images may be receivedfrom a specific server through the network interface 135 and thenstored.

Meanwhile, to receive a broadcasting information image in real time fromthe server 500 through a network, the image display apparatus 100 maytransmit recording-scheduled channel information and recording timeinformation to the server 500.

The controller 170 determines whether an area corresponding to abroadcasting information image is present in the extracted broadcastimage by checking whether there is an identical area between theextracted broadcast image and the pre-stored broadcasting informationimages or the broadcasting information images received through thenetwork interface 135.

Subsequently, the controller 170 may extract a broadcast image of achannel received for scheduled recording in order to determine theabsence or presence of a broadcasting information image in the broadcastsignal. This operation corresponds to step S3010 of FIG. 30.

The controller 170 transmits the extracted broadcast image and receivesinformation indicating whether the extracted broadcast image includes anarea with a broadcasting information image from the server 500.

That is, unlike the operation illustrated in FIG. 30, the server 500 maydetermine whether the extracted broadcast image includes an image with achannel name (e.g. MBS, CBB, NCC, etc.) or a logo indicating the channelname. Thus, the server 500 transmits the information indicating whetherthe extracted broadcast image includes a broadcasting information imageto the image display apparatus 100. The image display apparatus 100,particularly the controller 170 determines from the received informationwhether the broadcast signal includes a broadcasting information image.

The image display apparatus 100, particularly the controller 170determines whether it is time to end the recording (S2945). If it istime to end the recording, the controller 170 discontinues storing thebroadcast content. If the recoding still runs, the controller 170repeats step S2925 to S2940 to continue the recording.

Referring to FIG. 31B, the image display apparatus 100 may receive abroadcast signal on CH 7-1 set to the recording mode through the set-topbox 250 at a first time (T=t1), for example, at 8:00 PM after therecording time. An advertisement image 3120, not the broadcast program‘Oh! Lady’ to be recorded, is displayed on the display 180, by way ofexample.

The controller 170 extracts an image from the advertisement image 3120and determines whether the image is an image of the broadcast program oran advertisement image by comparing the extracted image with apre-stored broadcasting information image or a broadcasting informationimage received through the network.

In FIG. 31B, while a channel number is shown, neither a channel name(e.g. MBS, CBB, KBB, NCC, etc.) nor a program name (e.g. Oh! Lady, ABCNews, DR. OZ, etc.) is shown. Accordingly, the controller 170 does notstore the image 3120 despite the recording time, determining that theimage 3120 is an advertisement image through detection of such a logo asincluding a channel name.

Referring to FIG. 31C, the image display apparatus 100 continues toreceive a broadcast signal 3105 on CH 7-1 set to the recording modethrough the set-top box 250 at a second time (T=t2), for example, at8:05 PM. Not an advertisement image but a broadcast image 3130 of thebroadcast program ‘Oh! Lady’ is displayed on the display 180, by way ofexample.

The controller 170 extracts an image from the broadcast program image3130 and determines whether the image is a broadcast program image or anadvertisement image by comparing the extracted image with a pre-storedbroadcasting information image or a broadcasting information imagereceived through the network.

In FIG. 31C, a channel number, a channel name 3145, MBS HD identifying abroadcast channel, and a broadcast program name ‘Oh! Lady’ areillustrated. Accordingly, the controller 170 stores the image 3130 inthe memory 140, determining that the image 3130 is an image of therecording-scheduled broadcast program through detection of an image area3140 including the channel name 3145.

Referring to FIG. 31D, the image area 3140 including the channel name3145 exists in a received broadcast image 3150 at a third time (T=t3),for example, at 8:10 PM. Therefore, the image display apparatus 100continues to store the image 3150. For user convenience, an object 3155indicating recording in progress may be displayed.

Referring to FIG. 31E, the channel name 3145 does not appear in areceived broadcast image 3160 at a fourth time (T=t4), for example, at8:30 PM. For example, if an advertisement is scheduled in the middle ofthe broadcast program, an intermediate advertisement image 3160 may bedisplayed as illustrated in FIG. 31E.

Because the channel name, MBS HD and the broadcast program name, Oh!Lady are not displayed, the controller 170 does not store the image 3160in the memory 140 despite the recording time, determining that the image3160 is an advertisement image.

Referring to FIG. 31F, the image area 3140 including the channel name3145 appears in a received broadcast image 3170 at a fifth time (T=t5),for example, at 8:35 PM. Thus the image display apparatus 100 resumesstoring the image 3170 in the memory 140. For user convenience, theobject 3155 indicating recording in progress may be displayed.

Referring to FIG. 31G, the channel name 3145 does not exist in areceived broadcast image 3180 at a sixth time (T=t6) corresponding tothe ending time of recording, for example, at 9:00 PM.

Because the channel name, MBS HD and the broadcast program name, Oh!Lady are not displayed, the controller 170 does not store the image 3180in the memory 140 despite the recording time, determining that the image3180 is an advertisement image.

As described above, when the recording mode is set, the image displayapparatus determines whether a broadcasting information image exists ina broadcast signal. In the presence of the broadcasting informationimage, the image display apparatus stores broadcast contentcorresponding to the broadcast signal. As a result, user-intendedbroadcast content can be accurately recorded and thus user conveniencecan be increased.

If the step of determining the presence or absence of a broadcastinginformation image (S2925) is repeated, the controller 170 may monitorthe existence of a broadcasting information image more frequently at arecording starting time or a recording ending time than at any othertime point in the recording mode.

Since an advertisement image is usually received at the recordingstarting time, reception of a broadcasting information image ismonitored around the recording starting time more frequently.Consequently, only images of a desired program can be recorded reliably.

An advertisement image is also received generally at the recordingending time and thus reception of a broadcasting information image ismonitored around the recording ending time more frequently.Consequently, only images of a desired program can be recorded reliably.

While a broadcast image is received through the set-top box 250 in FIGS.31A to 31G, this is purely exemplary. Thus, the image display apparatus100 may receive a broadcast image through the broadcasting receiver 105,particularly the tuner unit 110.

FIG. 32 is an exemplary view illustrating comparison between anextracted broadcast image with a pre-stored broadcasting informationimage or a broadcasting information image received through the network.

The controller 170 extracts an image from the broadcast image 3130 ofthe recording-scheduled channel, CH 7-1 in the recording mode. Theextracted image may be a full video frame but it is the partial area3140 of the video frame in FIG. 32, by way of example.

The partial area 3140 resides at the same position across a plurality offrames and thus the controller 170 may extract this area 3140. Then thecontroller 170 compares an image 3210 in the extracted area with abroadcasting information image 3220 received from the server 500 throughthe network. If the image 3210 in the extracted area is identical to thebroadcasting information image 3220, the image display apparatus 100,particularly the controller 170 controls storage of broadcast content ofthe broadcast program. The memory 140 stores both the video and audio ofthe broadcast program.

FIG. 33A is an exemplary view illustrating transmission of the real-timeviewer rating information 3255 from the server 500 to the image displayapparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive the real-time viewer ratinginformation 3255 from the server 500 through the network interface 135.As illustrated in FIG. 32, the network interface 135 may receive thebroadcasting information image 3220 and the real-time viewer ratinginformation 3255 together.

Meanwhile, the broadcasting program image 3130 is shown as including theimage area 3140 with the channel name 3145 on the display 180, by way ofexample. Therefore, the memory 140 may store broadcast content of thebroadcast program.

FIG. 33B is an exemplary view illustrating display of a real-time viewerrating information object 3255 along with a broadcast image 3150.

The controller 170 may control generation of the real-time viewer ratinginformation object 3255 using real-time viewer rating informationreceived from the server 500 and control display of the real-time viewerrating information object 3255 on the display 180.

Because the broadcast program image 3150 includes the image area 3140with the channel name 3145, the memory 140 continues to store thebroadcast content of the broadcast program. For user convenience, theobject 3155 indicating recording in progress may be displayed.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow forperforming an operation between the image display apparatus and theserver according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIGS. 36A to 37E are views referred to for describing the method foroperating the image display apparatus illustrated in FIG. 34.

The image display apparatus 100 displays a broadcast program (S3410).Step S3410 corresponds to step S3510 of FIG. 35.

The image display apparatus 100 may receive a broadcast signal throughthe tuner unit 110, the network interface 135, or the external deviceinterface 130 illustrated in FIG. 2.

A broadcast signal from the tuner unit 110, which is received throughthe antenna, may be a terrestrial broadcast signal. Especially in thecase of terrestrial digital broadcasting, the broadcast signal mayinclude EPG information. The received broadcast signal is processed inthe controller 170 and the processed video of a broadcast programcorresponding to the broadcast signal may be displayed on the display180.

FIG. 36A is an exemplary view illustrating display of a specificbroadcast program image 3610, specifically an image of a baseballprogram on the display 180.

A broadcast signal from the network interface 135 or the external deviceinterface 130 may be received through the set-top box 250, asillustrated in FIG. 1. The received broadcast signal is processed in thecontroller 170 and the processed video of a broadcast programcorresponding to the broadcast signal may be displayed on the display180.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 determines whetheran application execution input has been received (S3145). Upon receiptof the application execution input, the controller 170 acquiresbroadcast program information (S3420). Steps S3415 and S3420 correspondto steps S3515 and S3520.

The controller 170 may determine whether the application execution inputhas been received by an input of a local key or an input from the remotecontroller 200.

FIG. 36B is an exemplary view illustrating manipulation of a specifickey 203 in the remote controller 200. The controller 170 may determinethat the application execution input has been received for the on-goingbroadcast program 3610 in response to the input of the specific key 203of the remote controller 200.

The controller 170 may control display of an object indicating theapplication execution input. For example, an object 3615 “More Info” isdisplayed in FIG. 36B.

The controller 170 acquires information about the on-going broadcastprogram before executing an application corresponding to the broadcastprogram in response to the application execution input. Specifically,the controller 170 may acquire information about the channel name,program name, etc. of the on-going broadcast program.

If the received broadcast signal is a terrestrial digital broadcastsignal received through the antenna, the broadcast signal includes EPGinformation and thus the controller 170 may acquire channel nameinformation and program name information from the EPG information.

FIG. 36C is an exemplary view illustrating EPG information 3630 about anon-going channel CH6. The EPG information 3630 provides programinformation 1035 that specifies the genre, program name, and playingtime of the on-going broadcast program.

If the received broadcast signal does not include EPG information, forexample, the received broadcast signal is an analog signal receivedthrough the antenna or a broadcast signal received through the set-topbox 250, the controller 170 may detect a logo image from a receivedbroadcast image and acquire program information from the detected logoimage. Especially, the controller 170 may transmit the detected logoimage to the server 500 and then receive program information such as thename of the broadcast program from the server 500. Subsequently, thecontroller 170 determines whether the application related to thebroadcast program has been installed (S3425). If the application has notbeen installed, steps S3430, S3435 and S3440 are performed. On the otherhand, if the application has been installed, steps S3450 and S3455 areperformed immediately.

Steps S3425, S3450, and S3455 correspond to steps S3525, S3550, andS3555 of FIG. 35.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 determines whetherthe application related to the broadcast program has been installed. Forexample, the controller 170 determines whether the application relatedto the broadcast program has been installed by searching a list ofinstalled applications.

If the application related to the broadcast program has been installed,the controller 170 controls immediate execution of the application anddisplay of the executed application on the display 180.

FIG. 36D is an exemplary view illustrating execution and display of anapplication 3640 regarding the baseball program image 3610 that the useris viewing. Especially, the baseball program image 3610 and theapplication 3640 are displayed together.

As illustrated in FIG. 36D, the application 3640 may provide therankings of teams, hitters, and pitchers, etc. The application 3640 mayalso include a schedule/result item, a bulletin board item, etc.Therefore, the user can readily view intended additional information.

Meanwhile, applications may be installed and executed on a broadcastprogram basis. In addition, each application may include differentcontents according to program characteristics.

If the application has not been installed, steps S3430, S3435, and S3440are performed.

That is, the image display apparatus 100 accesses the server 500 andreceives an application list from the server 500 (S3430). Upon selectionof a specific application item from the list (S3435), the image displayapparatus 100 downloads and installs the selected application (S3440).

Steps S3430, S3435 and S3440 will be described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 35. The image display apparatus 100 accesses theserver 500 through the network interface 135 and transmits informationabout the name of the program that the user is viewing to the server 500(S3530). Then the image display apparatus 100 receives an applicationlist related to the broadcast program from the server 500 (S3532).

FIGS. 37A, 37B and 37C correspond to FIGS. 36A, 36B and 36C. That is,FIG. 37A illustrates display of a specific broadcast program image 3710,FIG. 37B illustrates receipt of an application execution input by inputof the specific key 203 in the remote controller 200, and FIG. 37Cillustrates program information 3735 included in an EPG 3730.

FIG. 37D is an exemplary view illustrating display of an applicationlist 3740 related to the broadcast program, received from the server 500on the display 180.

The application list 3740 related to the broadcast program may include aplurality of application items. In FIG. 37D, four applications areshown. The application list 3740 may be displayed along with arepresentative image 3750 of the on-going broadcast program. Obviously,the representative image 3750 may also be received from the server 500.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may receive aninput that selects one of the plurality of application items in the listfrom a local key or the remote controller 200 (S3535). The controller170 of the image display apparatus 100 accesses the server 500 andrequests download of the selected application to the server 500 (S3540).The image display apparatus 100 downloads the selected application fromthe server 500 (S3542) and installs the downloaded application (S3544).Then the afore-described steps S3450 and S3455 are performed.

Upon selection of an application item 3745 from the list 3140illustrated in FIG. 37D, an application 3760 corresponding to theselected application item 3745 may be installed and displayed asillustrated in FIG. 37E. Therefore, the user can view additionalinformation about the broadcast program easily.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the imagedisplay apparatus according to a further embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIGS. 39A to 40C are views referred to for describingvarious examples of the method for operating the image display apparatusillustrated in FIG. 38.

The image display apparatus 100 enters the automatic channel scan mode(S3810). While a menu screen is being displayed, the automatic channelscan mode may be selected by input of a local key of the image displayapparatus 100 or input of a specific key of the remote controller 200.When the automatic channel scan mode is selected, the controller 170 mayenter the automatic channel scan mode.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the automaticchannel scan mode may be classified into fast mode and normal mode. Inthe fast mode, a channel search is fast completed by scanning only somechannels, whereas in the normal mode, total channels are scanned.

FIG. 40A is an exemplary view illustrating display of an automaticchannel scan mode screen 4010 on the display 180. In FIG. 40A, a fastmode object 4013 and a normal mode object 4016 are displayed together onthe automatic channel scan mode screen 4010 so that one of the fast modeand the normal mode may be selected according to user selection.

The image display apparatus 100 determines whether a first scan mode hasbeen selected from among a plurality of scan modes (S3815). If the firstscan mode has been selected, step S3820 is performed and otherwise, stepS3860 is performed. The controller 170 determines whether the fast modehas been selected by a local key input or an input from the remotecontroller 200 and, if the fast mode has been selected, controlsexecution of the fast mode.

Referring to FIG. 40A, upon selection of the fast mode object 4013 onthe automatic channel scan mode screen 4010, the image display apparatus100 may scan channels in the fast mode.

FIG. 40B is an exemplary view illustrating display of a screen 4020indicating an antenna connection or a cable connection, when the fastmode is selected. A ‘Start’ object 4023 and a ‘Set later’ object 4026are also displayed.

FIG. 40C is an exemplary view illustrating display of a fast mode startscreen 4030 on the display 180. In FIG. 40C, the fast mode start screen4030 may be displayed shortly after selection of the fast mode object4013 illustrated in FIG. 40A or shortly after selection of the ‘Start’object 4023 illustrated in FIG. 40B.

Referring to FIG. 4C, upon selection of a ‘Yes’ object 4033 in the fastmode start screen 4030, the fast mode may be set immediately. On theother hand, upon selection of a ‘No’ object 4036 in the fast mode startscreen 4030, the normal mode may be set immediately.

The image display apparatus 100 scans broadcast signals of some channelsamong broadcast signals of a plurality of available channels (S3820). Inthe fast automatic channel scan mode, only a part of total channelsavailable to the image display apparatus 100 are scanned and channelnumber information about the total channels are acquired using channelnumber information and channel name information about the scannedchannels.

For this purpose, the image display apparatus 100 preferably scans onlya part of the total channels. More preferably, some of cable broadcastchannels, not terrestrial broadcast channels are scanned or somechannels that differ in channel numbers according to services providedby a cable system operator are scanned.

That is, it is preferred that the channel numbers and names of somechannels to which different channel numbers are assigned in differentregions or according to different subscribed services are determined bychannel scanning, rather than the channel numbers and names of channelsto which the same channel numbers are assigned irrespective of regionsor subscribed cable services are determined by channel scanning.

The controller 170 may control input of some cable channels through theexternal device interface 130.

Referring to FIG. 39A, it is noted that a part 3930 of cable channels3910 among total channels 3900 are scanned. That is, cable channels CH81 to CH 85 may be scanned.

During scanning of some channels, the image display apparatus 100determines whether an image indicating a channel name or a program nameexists in a broadcast image of a broadcast signal received on eachchannel (S3825). In the presence of an image indicating a channel nameor a program name in the broadcast image, the image representing achannel name or a program name is extracted (S3830).

During scanning some channels, the controller 170 determines channelnumber information about the channels according to the frequencies ofthe channels. The controller 170 also determines the names of thechannels.

A cable broadcast signal provided by a cable system operator does notprovide EPG information. Therefore, a log detection technique is used todetermine the name of a channel in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

That is, the controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100determines whether an image indicating a channel name or a program nameexists in a broadcast image of a broadcast signal received on eachchannel. In the presence of an image indicating a channel name or aprogram name, the controller 170 extracts the image.

For example, a log image representing a channel name or a program nameis located at a corner of a broadcast image. Therefore, the controller170 may extract the image from a corner of the broadcast image,especially from the top right corner, top left corner, or bottom rightcorner of the broadcast image.

The image display apparatus 100 determines the channel name of thebroadcast signal based on the extracted image (S3855). The controller170 of the image display apparatus 100 may determine the channel name ofthe channel based on the extracted image. For example, if a logo imagerepresenting a channel name is stored for each channel in the memory140, the controller 170 may determine the channel name of the channel bycomparing a broadcast image of the channel with the stored logo images.

In another example, the image display apparatus 100 may transmit theextracted image to the server 500 through the network interface 135 andreceive channel name information corresponding to the image from theserver 500. The image display apparatus 100 may determine the channelname of the channel based on the received channel name information.

Referring to FIG. 39A, it can be noted that the part 3930 of the cablechannels 3910 among the total channels 3900 are scanned in the fast modeand the channel names of the cable channels CH 81 to CH 85 aredetermined. The channel names of the cable channels CH 81 to CH 85 maybe MBC DTV, KBS1 HD, SBS HD, KBS2 HD, and EBD DTV, respectively.

The image display apparatus 100 transmits the determined channel numberinformation and channel name information to the server 500 (S3840). Thusthe server 500 receives the channel number information and the channelname information from the image display apparatus 100 (S3940). Thecontroller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may controltransmission of the determined channel number information and channelname information to the server 500 through the network interface 135during a partial scanning period.

For example, the image display apparatus 100 may transmit the channelnumber information and channel name information about the cable channelsCH 81 to CH 85 illustrated in FIG. 39A to the server 500.

Besides the channel number information and channel name information, theimage display apparatus 100 may further transmit location information(region information) about the image display apparatus 100 orinformation about a cable system operator that provides a subscribedcable broadcasting service (including information about the name of thecable system operator). Therefore, the server 500 may select a suitablechannel map based on the location information or the subscribed cablesystem operator information in addition to the channel numberinformation and channel name information.

The server 500 selects a matching channel map based on the receivedchannel number information and channel name information. Specifically,the processor 720 of the server 500 selects a channel map matching tothe channel number information and channel name information receivedfrom the image display apparatus 100 from among various channel mapsstored in the memory 740.

Despite the same cable broadcasting channels, different channel numbersmay be assigned to them in different regions or according to differentsubscribed services. In an embodiment of the present invention, achannel map is selected based on channel number information and/orchannel name information about some channels, received from the imagedisplay apparatus 100.

For example, the processor 720 of the server 500 may select a channelmap matching to the channel number information and channel nameinformation about CH 81 to CH 85 illustrated in FIG. 39A.

Then the server 500 transmits channel number information and channelname information about a plurality of channels to the image displayapparatus 100 according to the matching channel map.

The image display apparatus 100 receives the channel number informationand channel name information about the plurality of channels (S3845).

The server 500 transmits the selected channel map through the networkinterface 730. Specifically, the server 500 may transmit the channelnumber information and channel name information about the plurality ofchannels in the selected channel map. Therefore, the image displayapparatus 100 may receive the channel number information and channelname information about the plurality of channels through the networkinterface 130.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 39A, the image display apparatus 100may receive a channel map 3940. The channel map 3940 includes a channelmap 3925 listing the channel numbers and channel names of terrestrialchannels and a channel map 3920 listing the channel numbers and channelnames of cable channels.

If the server 500 selects a plurality of channel maps, it may transmitthe plurality of channel maps. For example, if there are two channelmaps matching to the channel number information and channel nameinformation about CH 81 to CH 85 in FIG. 39A, the server 500 maytransmit the two channel maps or channel number information and channelname information about a plurality of channels included in each of thechannel maps to the image display apparatus 100.

The image display apparatus 100 generates a channel map for the totalchannels (S3850). The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100may generate a channel map using the received channel number informationand channel name information about the plurality of channels of thechannel map.

Specifically, the image display apparatus 100 determines channel numberinformation and channel name information about each channel duringadditional scanning and compares the determined channel numberinformation and channel name information with the channel numberinformation and channel name information about the plurality ofchannels, received from the server 500. If the determined channel numberinformation and channel name information are identical to the receivedchannel number information and channel name information, the imagedisplay apparatus 100 may determine that the received channel numberinformation and channel name information are valid. The image displayapparatus 100 may generate a channel map for the total channels using atleast one of the received channel number information or channel nameinformation about the plurality of channels.

For example, the controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 maycontrol the tuner 390 to additionally scan a part (CH 12 to CH 18) ofterrestrial channels in FIG. 39A and may determine channel numberinformation and channel name information about each channel during theadditional scanning.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 compares thechannel number and channel name information about CH 14 to CH 18 withthe channel map 3925 of the terrestrial channels received from theserver 500. If the channel number and channel name information match tothe channel map 3925, the controller 170 determines that the overallchannel map 3940 received from the server 500 is valid.

Accordingly, the controller 170 finally determines the overall channelmap 3940 received from the server 500 as a channel map for the imagedisplay apparatus 100.

That is, the channel number information about the total channels 3900can be acquired rapidly, simply by scanning about 12 channels instead ofall of tens or hundreds of channels in the fast mode as illustrated inFIG. 39A, as described above. In addition, the channel name informationabout the total channels 3900 can be acquired. Thus, an overall channelmap can be configured readily.

Meanwhile, determination of a final channel map means termination of theautomatic channel scan mode.

On the other hand, if the first scan mode has not been selected in stepS3815, the image display apparatus 100 determines whether a second scanmode has been selected (S3860). If the second scan mode has beenselected, the image display apparatus 100 scans all of the plurality ofavailable channels (S3865). The image display apparatus 100 determineschannel number information and channel name information about eachchannel during scanning the channel (S3870).

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 determines whetherthe normal mode has been selected by a local key input or an input fromthe remote controller 200. Upon selection of the normal mode, thecontroller 170 enters the normal mode.

Referring to FIG. 40A, upon selection of the normal mode object 4016 inthe automatic channel scan mode screen 4010, the image display apparatus100 may scan channels in the normal mode.

Referring to FIG. 40C, upon selection of the ‘No’ object 4036 in thefast mode start screen 4030, the image display apparatus 100 may scanchannels in the normal mode.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may control thetuner unit 110 to scan all of terrestrial channels and may also controlthe external device interface 130 to scan all of cable channels.

FIG. 39B is an exemplary view illustrating scanning of the totalchannels 3900. That is, all of the terrestrial channels 3915 aresequentially scanned and then all of the cable channels 3910 aresequentially scanned.

The controller 170 of the image display apparatus 100 may determine thechannel number of each channel, while switching between the frequenciesof the channels. In the case of terrestrial digital broadcast channels,their channel names may be determined from EPG information. In the caseof terrestrial analog broadcast channels or cable channels, theirchannel names may be determined by detecting logo images from broadcastimages of broadcast signals, as described before.

Compared to the fast mode, the total channels are scanned in the normalmode. Therefore, the channel names of the channels may not bedetermined, when needed. Determination of the channel numbers of thechannels may be sufficient.

Upon completion of scanning the total channels, the controller 170 maygenerate a channel map using the determined channel number information.If there are determined channel names, the channel names may be used ingenerating the channel map.

The fast mode may be one of a plurality of modes for automatic channelscanning. That is, the fast mode may be performed during automaticchannel scanning.

As is apparent from the above description, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, while a broadcast signal of adetected broadcast channel is being received in channel scan mode, if animage indicating a channel name is included in a broadcast image, thechannel name image is extracted and the channel name of the broadcastchannel is determined based on the extracted image. Thus, a channel mapcan be easily generated using channel number information and channelname information, thereby increasing user convenience.

On the contrary, in the absence of a channel name image in the broadcastimage of the broadcast channel, channel number information and channelname information determined for other broadcast channels are transmittedto a server, channel map information is received from the server, and achannel map is updated using the received channel map information.Therefore, the channel map is completed so that it may include channelnames for all channels.

In the case where channel number information and channel nameinformation are included in a broadcast signal of a received broadcastchannel such as a digital broadcast channel, the channel number andchannel name of the broadcast channel can be determined and stored in achannel map, thus updating the channel map.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a serverreceives extracted image information or channel number and channel nameinformation from an image display apparatus, selects a matching channelmap from among a plurality of pre-stored channel maps, and thentransmits information about the selected channel map to the imagedisplay apparatus. Accordingly, the image display apparatus can readilycomplete its channel map.

The server receives channel number information and channel nameinformation from a plurality of image display apparatuses. If channelnumber information and channel name information received from a specificnumber of image display apparatuses among the plurality of image displayapparatuses are identical, the server generates a channel map using theidentical channel number information and channel name information andregisters the channel map as a new channel map, if the channel map doesnot exist in the server.

As the image display apparatus displays its channel map, it can increaseuser convenience.

Furthermore, the image display apparatus can receive real-time viewerrating information from the server and display an object indicating thereceived real-time viewer rating information. Therefore, a user canreadily view the real-time viewer rating information, thus experiencingincreased use convenience.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, uponselection of one of a plurality of broadcast program items, the imagedisplay apparatus transmits channel information about the selectedbroadcast program to a remote controller, receives a broadcast signal ofthe broadcast program corresponding to the channel information from aset-top box, and displays the broadcast program. Accordingly, the usercan readily view an intended broadcast program.

One of a plurality of broadcast program items can be selected in aprogram-based fashion without channel number information. Therefore, theuser can view an intended broadcast program reliably.

As the remote controller communicates with the set-top box in a firstcommunication scheme and with the image display apparatus in a secondcommunication scheme, the image display apparatus and the set-top boxcan be easily controlled using the single remote controller.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, sincethe image display apparatus can receive detailed information about adisplayed broadcast image from the server and display the detailedinformation, user convenience can be increased.

The server can receive an image indicating a channel name or programname from the image display apparatus and thus readily identify abroadcast channel received at the image display apparatus based on thereceived image.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, whenrecording mode is set, the image display apparatus determines thepresence or absence of an image indicating broadcasting information in abroadcast signal. In the presence of the broadcasting information image,the image display apparatus stores broadcast content corresponding tothe broadcast signal. Therefore, the image display apparatus can recordonly user-intended broadcast content, thereby increasing userconvenience.

Especially in the absence of a broadcasting information image, the imagedisplay apparatus does not store the broadcast content corresponding tothe broadcast signal despite a recording time in the recording mode.Accordingly, the image display apparatus can record only user-intendedbroadcast content reliably, thereby increasing user convenience.

A specific broadcast program item can be selected for schedulingrecording on an EPG screen according to user selection. The presence orabsence of a broadcasting information image is monitored at a recordingstarting time according to a recording mode setting. Thus, onlyuser-intended broadcast content can be recorded reliably, except anadvertisement image.

Since a broadcast signal is monitored to detect a broadcastinginformation image more frequently at the recording starting or endingtime, only user-intended broadcast content can be recorded reliably,thereby increasing user convenience.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, uponreceipt of an application execution input, the image display apparatusacquires information about a broadcast program and displays a relatedapplication. Therefore, the user can readily acquire additionalinformation about the broadcast program, thus experiencing increased useconvenience.

The user convenience is further increased because an application can beexecuted on a broadcast program basis.

If a related application has not been installed in the image displayapparatus, the image display apparatus accesses the server and anapplication list from the server. Upon selection of an application inthe list, the image display apparatus downloads the selected applicationand installs the application. Therefore, a user-intended application canbe installed and executed simply.

The broadcast program information can be extracted from EPG informationin a received broadcast signal or acquired based on a log imageindicating a channel name or program name in a broadcast image of abroadcast signal. In the absence of an EPG, the broadcast programinformation can be acquired by logo detection. Thus, user conveniencecan be increased.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, theimage display apparatus scans broadcast signals of some channels inautomatic channel scan mode. During scanning the channels, the imagedisplay apparatus extracts an image indicating a channel name or programname from a broadcast image of a broadcast signal from each of thedetected channels, determines the channel names of the broadcast signalsusing the extracted images, and fast identify total channels based onthe determined channel names. Accordingly, user convenience can beincreased.

For automatic channel scan, an object that allows selection one of afirst scan mode for fast channel scan and a second scan mode forscanning all channels is displayed to thereby increase user convenience.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, theimage display apparatus transmits its location information or cablesystem operator information to the server in the automatic channel scanmode. Then the image display apparatus receives channel number andchannel name information about a plurality of channels from the server,scans broadcast signals of a part of the plurality of channels,determines channel number information and channel name information aboutthe channels during the partial scanning, and fast identifies allchannels using the determined channel number and channel nameinformation. Therefore, user convenience can be increased.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the server receiveschannel number information and channel name information, or locationinformation or cable system operator information about the image displayapparatus from the image display apparatus, selects a channel mapmatching the received information, and transmits channel numberinformation and channel name information about a plurality channelsincluded in the matching channel map to the image display apparatus.Therefore, the image display apparatus can search channels fast in theautomatic channel scan mode.

The image display apparatus, the server, and the methods for operatingthe image display apparatus and the server according to the foregoingexemplary embodiments are not restricted to the exemplary embodimentsset forth herein. Therefore, variations and combinations of theexemplary embodiments set forth herein may fall within the scope of thepresent invention.

The methods for operating the image display apparatus and the serveraccording to the foregoing exemplary embodiments may be implemented ascode that can be written on a computer-readable recording medium andthus read by a processor in the portable terminal and the image displayapparatus. The computer-readable recording medium may be any type ofrecording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner.Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM,a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage, and acarrier wave (e.g., data transmission over the Internet). Thecomputer-readable recording medium can be distributed over a pluralityof computer systems connected to a network so that computer-readablecode is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralizedmanner. Programs, code, and code segments to realize the embodimentsherein can be construed by one of ordinary skill in the art.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating an image displayapparatus, comprising: entering channel scan mode; receiving a broadcastsignal of a detected broadcast channel in the channel scan mode;extracting, in the presence of an image representing a channel name in abroadcast image of the broadcast signal, the image representing achannel name from the broadcast image; determining channel numberinformation and channel name information about the broadcast channelbased on the extracted image; and storing the channel number informationand the channel name information about the broadcast channel in achannel map.
 2. The method according to claim 1, in the absence of theimage representing a channel name in the broadcast image of thebroadcast signal, further comprising: transmitting the channel numberinformation and the channel name information to a server; receivingchannel map information from the server; and updating the channel mapusing the received channel map information.
 3. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising storing the broadcast image of the broadcastsignal, in the absence of the channel number information and the channelname information are not included in the broadcast signal of thedetected broadcast channel, wherein the reception of a broadcast signaland the storing of the broadcast image are repeated, while switchingfrom one broadcast channel to another until channel scanning iscompleted in the channel scan mode.
 4. The method according to claim 1,further comprising storing the broadcast image of the broadcast signal,in the absence of the channel number information and the channel nameinformation are not included in the broadcast signal of the detectedbroadcast channel, wherein upon completion of channel scanning in thechannel scan mode, the image extraction is performed.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: determining whether thechannel number information and the channel name information are includedin the broadcast signal of the detected broadcast channel; and storingthe channel number information and the channel name information aboutthe broadcast channel, if the channel number information and the channelname information are included in the broadcast signal of the detectedbroadcast channel.
 6. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising transmitting location information or network informationabout the image display apparatus to a server.
 7. The method accordingto claim 2, further comprising receiving information about abroadcasting service type received from a broadcasting service providerfrom the server, in addition to the channel map information.
 8. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a channel mapobject corresponding to the channel map.
 9. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the determination of channel name information comprisesdetermining a channel name of the broadcast channel by comparing theextracted image with a logo image representing a channel name pre-storedor received through a network.
 10. The method according to claim 1,further comprising repeating the reception of a broadcast signal to thestoring of the channel number information and the channel nameinformation in a channel map, while switching from one broadcast channelto another until channel scanning is completed in the channel scan mode.11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determiningwhether the channel number information and the channel name informationare included in the broadcast signal of the detected broadcast channel,wherein the image extraction is performed in the absence of the channelnumber information and the channel name information in the broadcastsignal of the detected broadcast channel.
 12. A method for operating aserver, comprising: receiving channel number information and channelname information from an image display apparatus; selecting a matchingchannel map using the received channel number information and channelname information; and transmitting information about the selectedchannel map to the image display apparatus.
 13. The method according toclaim 12, further comprising receiving location information or networkinformation about the image display apparatus, wherein the selection ofa channel map comprises selecting the channel map using the receivedchannel number information, channel name information, and locationinformation or network information.
 14. The method according to claim12, further comprising: receiving channel number information and channelname information from a plurality of image display apparatuses; andgenerating, if channel number information and channel name informationare the same among a specific number of image display apparatuses, achannel map using the same channel number information and channel nameinformation.
 15. An image display apparatus comprising: a broadcastingreceiver to receive a broadcast signal of a detected broadcast channelin channel scan mode; a controller to extract, in the presence of animage representing a channel name in a broadcast image of the broadcastsignal, the image representing a channel name from the broadcast image,and to determine channel number information and channel name informationabout the broadcast channel based on the extracted image; and a memoryto store the channel number information and the channel name informationabout the broadcast channel in a channel map.
 16. The apparatusaccording to claim 15, further comprising a network interface to, in theabsence of the image representing a channel name in the broadcast imageof the broadcast signal, transmit the channel number information and thechannel name information to a server, and to receive channel mapinformation from the server, wherein the controller updates the channelmap using the received channel map information.
 17. The image displayapparatus according to claim 15, wherein in the absence of the channelnumber information and the channel name information are not included inthe broadcast signal of the detected broadcast channel, the memorystores the broadcast image of the broadcast signal, and the controllerrepeats the broadcast signal reception and the broadcast image storing,while switching from one broadcast channel to another until channelscanning is completed in the channel scan mode.
 18. The image displayapparatus according to claim 15, wherein in the absence of the channelnumber information and the channel name information are not included inthe broadcast signal of the detected broadcast channel, the memorystores the broadcast image of the broadcast signal, and upon completionof channel scanning in the channel scan mode, the controller performsthe image extraction.
 19. The image display apparatus according to claim15, wherein if the channel number information and the channel nameinformation are included in the broadcast signal of the detectedbroadcast channel, the memory stores the channel number information andthe channel name information about the broadcast channel.
 20. The imagedisplay apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a display todisplay a channel map object corresponding to the channel map.
 21. Aserver comprising: a network interface to receive channel numberinformation and channel name information from an image displayapparatus; a memory to store a plurality of channels maps; and aprocessor to control selection of a matching channel map from among theplurality of channel maps stored in the memory, using the receivedchannel number information and channel name information and to controltransmission of the selected channel map to the image display apparatus.